Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao confirmed that he will face American rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. in a highly anticipated rematch in 2024. The announcement came in a video posted by Rizin on their X account on December 31, where Pacquiao responded affirmatively to Rizin chief executive Nobuyuki Sakakibara’s query about fighting Mayweather next year.
“I’m ready,” Pacquiao declared, eliciting a wave of excitement from the audience. He expressed regret for not fulfilling a previous promise of a bout last year but reassured fans of a major fight in Japan against Floyd Mayweather. Pacquiao’s playful hesitation before naming Mayweather added to the dramatic build-up of the announcement.
The upcoming match is a sequel to the historic 2015 battle between the two boxing legends, remembered as the highest-grossing fight in the sport’s history. Mayweather emerged victorious in that encounter through a unanimous decision. However, the fight was shrouded in controversy as Pacquiao later revealed he had competed with an undisclosed shoulder injury.
While specific details of the rematch, including the date and venue, are yet to be announced, the anticipation is already high among boxing enthusiasts and fans worldwide.