Mayweather rematch on the horizon

LAS VEGAS – Something bigger, something far more lucrative may be on the horizon for Manny Pacquiao if he gets past Mario Barrios on Saturday evening at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here.

It’s a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Word moved around in this oven-hot city of lights Tuesday that “conversations” are on regarding the rematch of the record-breaking showdown between Pacquiao and Mayweather in 2015.

It’s been 10 years, and the world is still waiting. Mayweather is now 48 and Pacquiao 46. But if the rematch happens, it could still be worth a billion or two in revenues.

Pacquiao is not thinking ahead of Barrios, a young, certified champion, but will never turn his back on a rematch with Mayweather, who beat him on points in 2015.

“It’s up to him,” he had said again and again.

If Pacquiao succeeds on Saturday, he becomes the oldest welterweight champion in history, and perhaps can use the WBC belt as bait for Mayweather.

Multiple sources carried their own version of the story Tuesday, fueled by a jaded boxing writer’s post on social media that “conversations are already happening.”

Lance Pugmire, an award-winning boxing scribe from Los Angeles who doesn’t feed on fake news, said Mayweather will be at ringside for the Pacquiao fight.

Pacquiao will reportedly earn no less than $12 million to fight Barrios, whose purse could be just a little over a million.

Against Mayweather, the former senator from the Philippines banked over $100 million, and the undefeated American twice more than that.

Las Vegas needs Mayweather-Pacquiao Part 2. Pacquiao and Mayweather would both need it as well. For that to happen, Pacquiao must beat Barrios.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao opened the doors to the Knuckleheads Boxing Gym owned by MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons Tuesday afternoon and staged an impressive two-hour workout.

His Australian strength and conditioning coach, Justine Fortune, said Pacquiao is almost good to go.

“He’s fast, he’s firm, he’s strong. At 46, it’s crazy,” Fortune told Pinoy reporters.

There are many ways for Pacquiao to beat Barrios, he said, and one way is to throw as many punches as he can.

In shadow-boxing, Pacquiao throws a dozen punches in three seconds.

“Manny can hit you with four-five-six-punch combinations, and he lands three or four, and every shot hurts,” said Fortune.

“Barrios is not a big puncher and Pacquiao is ridiculously strong. He’s aggressive. It’s a blessing. It’s a gift,” he added.