Pacquiao-Mayweather in Tokyo?

Floyd working on ‘exhibition’ but Pacman wants real fight

MANILA, Philippines — Floyd Mayweather Jr. yesterday announced on social media that an “exhibition” between him and Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao in Tokyo, Japan is in the works.

“What I’m working on right now is the Mayweather-Pacquiao exhibition right here in Tokyo, Japan. Stay tuned,” the retired superstar said in a video clip he posted on Instagram.

But that’s as far as he went. He did not say what the exhibition was all about – if it would involve a boxing match, a basketball game or a singing contest.

Pacquiao, at 40 the reigning WBA welterweight champion, was informed of Mayweather’s post that came at around 5 p.m. Manila time, and immediately drew over 35,000 likes.

“Bakit exhibition? Dapat fight (Why an exhibition? Should be a real fight),” Pacquiao told The STAR.

Mayweather never runs out of surprises, including this latest announcement, which seemed to have caught the fighting senator from the Philippines by surprise.

Last August, a Mayweather video almost went viral, wherein he said he was on his way to Saudi Arabia to pursue talks of a rematch of his 2015 record-breaking showdown with Pacquiao.

But Mayweather, 50-0 before his retirement from boxing in 2017, referred to it as “an old video,” bragging that he was paid $2 million to post it.

Last New Year’s Eve, he staged an exhibition boxing match with Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa at the Saitama Super Arena.

It lasted no more than 139 seconds when Mayweather scored three knockdowns in the first round of a scheduled three-rounder.

“It was all about entertainment. I’m still retired. I don’t look forward to coming back to boxing. I did it just to entertain fans in Japan. I’m still retired, I’m still 50-0,” said Mayweather.

Now 42, the American boxer said he made $9 million in that exhibition match.

This time, he wants Pacquiao to be part of it.