If Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao decide to fight a rematch to their underwhelming fight from 2015, it makes sense that not many boxing fans would expect greatness. The first fight ? an easy unanimous decision victory for Mayweather that was terribly anti-climatic, considering the boxing public had wanted to see the two match up for the previous half-decade ? was one of the most disappointing boxing displays in the last several years. In reality, the event probably turned off casual fans from even wanting to watch the sport afterward.
Mostly because it was very clearly a fight about money and greed.
But if Mayweather and Pacquiao decide to give it another shot ? and there have been rumblings for the past couple days after Mayweather unexpectedly showed up Saturday night at the Thomas & Mack Center to watch Pacquiao beat Jessie Vargas by unanimous decision ? the bout would make complete sense.
Floyd Mayweather defeated Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision. (Photo by JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Here are three reasons why:
1) The money, oh man, the money: Mayweather earned $700 million during his career. But that doesn?t mean he doesn?t want more of it, and Pacquiao would be his best ? and probably only ? hope for another $100 million payday. Mayweather made a staggering $250 million while beating up Pacquiao (who earned $150 million) for 12 rounds in a fight that generated the first $600 million night in sports history. Would a second fight make as much money? Nope. There?s almost no chance the promoters would try to gouge fans again by charging $100 for a PPV, leaving much less money on the table, and the interest level to watch a 38-year-old fighter in Pacquiao take on a 39-year-old in Mayweather who hasn?t fought since May 2015 wouldn?t be nearly as high as it was 2015. But aside possibly from a Canelo Alvarez-Gennady Golovkin showdown, Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 would generate more excitement than any other fight in the sport. And it would still make plenty of money.
2) Mayweather probably thinks he can win again: Even if Pacquiao thinks he?ll lose, he?ll take on the challenge of Mayweather. There?s simply too much money at stake not to try again. The same probably could not be said for Mayweather, who seemingly does just about anything to avoid risking his undefeated record. But from the way Pacquiao performed against Vargas, Mayweather should be reassured that beating Pacquiao a second time would be even easier than the first. That?s not to say Pacquiao didn?t look good vs. Vargas, because in my eyes, he did. But it?s clear that Pacquiao is past his prime and that he probably won?t be busy and/or energetic enough to put pressure on Mayweather for 12 rounds. Pacquiao was a great fighter. Mayweather is an all-time great. That disparity will widen if they fight again. And hey, what did Mayweather think about Pacquiao?s performance, anyway?
