Manny Pacquiao is done entertaining endless speculation over a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. After a hard-fought majority draw against WBC welterweight champ Mario Barrios on Saturday night, the boxing legend issued a challenge: If Mayweather wants to fight again, he needs to prove it.
“It’s hard to talk about a fighter who already retired. If he comes out [of retirement], go sign the contract and we’ll fight,” Pacquiao said at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
At 45, Pacquiao returned to the ring after a four-year hiatus and proved he could still go toe-to-toe with a younger, taller opponent. Although the fight didn’t end in a win, his performance kept the door open for future bouts — and possibly, a long-awaited sequel to the 2015 megafight with Mayweather.
Rumors of a rematch have swirled for years, occasionally reigniting when both fighters surface in headlines. This time, there was buzz that Mayweather might attend the Barrios fight, but he was noticeably absent.
“Let’s fight again if he wants. I have no problem with that. I’m active now. I don’t pick my opponent and I fight them all in my division,” Pacquiao emphasized.
