Mayweather and Pacquiao
Manny Pacquiao is seeking a rematch with Floyd Mayweather of the richest fight of all time so they can restore the public’s faith in boxing.
Their long delayed and much ballyhooed fight last year made well over half a billion dollars at the box office but was a monumental turn-off for the worldwide television audience.
So massive was the negative impact on the sport that it has been blamed for a huge drop in pay-per-view ratings and when a return bout was first mooted the public groaned at the prospect.
Both men retired subsequently but the Pacman came back brilliantly in Las Vegas on Saturday night to win his 11th world title with a vintage beating of welterweight champion Jessie Vargas.
The reason he would like Mayweather to join him in his return to the ring is not the money.
The morning-after sun was blazing down on the desert scene of his renaissance triumph, in the month before his 38th birthday, as Pacquiao said: ‘If we fight again I will do everything in my power to win back the trust of the fans.’
‘They would not be disappointed again if it happens. I promise to make sure they love it. That is what we owe them.’
No-one was disappointed with the lightning speed and virile power of Pacquiao’s performance against the much larger, as well as a decade younger, Vargas.
Even Mayweather said: ‘Not bad.’
‘And if the fans want it, why not?’
He fought the original fight with an injured shoulder and Mayweather did just enough to win. Now he says: ‘I will make sure I am able to be my best if there is a next time.’
Should it happen the two of them could expect to bank roughly half the $210 million paid to Mayweather and Pacquiao’s purse of $120 million.
That might be an offer too good for Mr Money to refuse but it is not the Pacman’s motivation.