MANILA, Philippines – Floyd Mayweather’s impending trip to Saudi Arabia to explore about the possibility of staging a rematch with Manny Pacquiao there came as news to the Filipino icon’s camp.
“Senator is not aware of anything,” MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons told Philstar.com in a text message Monday when asked about their knowledge of Mayweather’s most recent plan.
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The retired superstar is shown in a video on social media confirming his trip to the Middle Eastern country to talk with interested parties about Mayweather-Pacquiao 2.
Undefeated, 50-0 boxing legend @FloydMayweather released a video on Sunday saying he was heading to #SaudiArabia for talks about a rematch with Filipino superstar @MannyPacquiaohttps://t.co/52EBxiUDsL pic.twitter.com/3yz9DQOFan
— Arab News (@arabnews) August 18, 2019
“It’s an honor to come to Saudi Arabia to sit down with you guys to talk about the Mayweather vs Pacquiao rematch. Saudi Arabia — Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather — I’m on my way,” Mayweather said in a video.
For Gibbons, it’s as simple as Mayweather looking for investors to bankroll his rematch with Pacquiao, which at this point remains the most financially rewarding option for both boxing superstars.
“That is Floyd exploring things if he can raise money for the fight,” added Gibbons, an international matchmaker who now also acts as Pacquiao’s right-hand man.
Mayweather’s first clash with Pacquiao more than four years ago shattered gate receipts and pay-per-view records to become the richest boxing match in history. The American outpointed the Filipino icon — who fought with a bum right shoulder that night — and both fighters earned career-high nine-figure paydays.
While Mayweather has remained inactive since stopping UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017 in what turned out to be his last pro boxing fight, Pacquiao has pressed on in his career. The fighting senator kept his winning ways when he outpointed Keith Thurman last July to become the WBA “super” welterweight champion.
A second crack at Mayweather — who remains undefeated in 50 fights — has always been in Pacquiao’s mind. Mayweather, however, has shown little interest in giving Pacquiao another shot.
That is, until he revealed his Saudi plan.