Online Reporter
A REMATCH between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is set to clash with “TBE’s” proposed exhibition boxing bout against Mike Tyson.
In early September, Mayweather announced that he will lock horns with the former undisputed heavyweight champion next spring.
The exact details were scarce, with no date, location, or catchweight confirmed for the two combatants who are separated by more than 80lbs.
And it is now unclear where the fight stands after Mayweather and Pacquiao entered into talks over a rematch, 10 years after meeting in the most commercially successful contest in boxing history.
According to esteemed boxing journalist Dan Rafael, the bout is being targeted for April in Las Vegas, leaving Tyson-Mayweather in a precarious position.
If Mayweather-Pacquiao II goes ahead as planned, then organisers will either have to push back the Tyson fight or scrap it altogether.
Pacquiao recently confirmed that he and Mayweather are thrashing out the details for a second fight. Speaking to The Sun, he said: “As long as Floyd will come back. I’m active in boxing, it’s possible.”
“There is a talk. Like I said, I’m happy to start talking about, discussing about a possible rematch with Floyd. “Of course, there’s a good chance to have a rematch because I’m still active — it’s only if he will come back that’s possible.”
It has yet to be agreed whether the bout would be an exhibition bout or a professional contest, although “Pac Man” has made it clear he wants the sequel to be a “real fight”.
“I don’t know if it will happen by the end of the year, but he will see,” Pacquiao told the Ariel Helwani Show in July when talks of a rematch initially emerged.
“One at a time. Of course (I would be interested in fighting Mayweather).
“He has been ducking me. I don’t want an exhibition, I want a real fight.
“It’s been a long time that I have wanted to give the fans a good fight between me and him.
“But he has been ducking and avoiding me. Let’s focus on this Saturday, I have business to take care of.”
Pacquiao, 46, shocked the boxing world in July when he returned to the professional ring for the first time in four years to hold WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a draw.
Mayweather, 48, hasn’t competed in the paid ranks since August 2017, but he has remained active in the exhibition boxing sphere. The American icon beat Pacquiao comfortably on points when they met for the first time in May 2015 at Las Vegas’ MGM Grand Garden Arena. — talksport.com
