Pacquiao seeks redemption in Mayweather rematch
MANILA, Philippines — Insisting he won their megabuck duel more than a decade ago, Manny Pacquiao is ecstatic to finally get that long-awaited second crack at Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao and Mayweather — who is set to follow his rival in coming out of retirement — will again duke it out on September 19 in Las Vegas, streaming giant Netflix announced Tuesday.
In 2015, the two superstars made history when they figured in the richest boxing match ever that netted them career-high purses, with Mayweather outpointing Pacquiao. Eleven years later, both have another chance at laughing their way to the bank.
But more importantly for Pacquiao, it’s a shot at redemption.
“Excited na may chance tayo to redeem yung pangalin natin, makabawi tayo,” he told Dyan Castillejo and other broadcast journalists when he turned over some of his boxing memorabilia to the National Sports Museum at the PhilSports Complex in Pasig on Tuesday.
(I am excited for the chance to redeem my name and get back at [Mayweather].)
The Filipino icon lost to Mayweather via unanimous decision in their fight on May 4, 2015 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, a result Pacquiao disagrees with to this day.
“Kung CompuBox [the punch statistics tool] ang pag-uusapan natin, i-review natin, mas marami akong patama kaysa sa kanya,” Pacquiao explained.
(If we talk about CompuBox and we review the fight, we’ll see that I landed more punches than him.)
However, the official punch statistics showed Mayweather landing a total of 148 blows to Pacquiao’s 81. The undefeated American also did it with better accuracy at 34% compared to his foe’s 19%.
The two fighters have since chosen different paths, with Pacquiao staying on much longer until retiring five years ago — only to come back last year with a failed title bid against former welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
Mayweather, for his part, announced last week that he is likewise ending his retirement for one pro fight — and as it turns out, it’s against Pacquiao.
“Ito yung magiging sagot sa maraming question… At least may chance pa tayo ipakita yung kayo natin ipakita,” Pacquiao said.
(This rematch will be the answer to so many questions… At least we have a chance to show what we’re still capable of).
‘Back to work’
Pacquiao, who turned 47 in December last year — Mayweather is older at 49 — said he is planning to again train at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles under longtime cornerman Freddie Roach.
And he won’t be cutting corners.
“We have enough time to prepare. Minimum of three and a half months or at least four months. To burn all the fat,” Pacquiao continued.
Pacquiao proved he can still withstand the rigors of a tough training camp when he held Barrios to a draw in their title fight last year, also in Las Vegas — a fight some observers thought he should have won.
“I’m so excited to work hard, to train hard. Back to work,” said.
“This is a real fight. Kasama siya sa magiging record namin (It will be reflected in our records,” added Pacquiao (67-7-2, with 39 knockouts) of his upcoming second tango with Mayweather (50-0, with 27 KOs).
Interim exhibitions
Before they see each other from across the ring, Pacquiao and Mayweather will first do so against different opponents — both of which will be exhibition bouts.
Mayweather is set to meet heavyweight great Mike Tyson, while Pacquiao will do the same against his former sparring partner and ex-world champion Ruslan Provodnikov on April 18 at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Mayweather and Pacquiao are no strangers to the lucrative exhibition fight scene, with the former figuring in a handful of them and the latter doing the same twice — against Korean YouTuber DK Yoo and Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo.
The Tyson and Provodnikov gigs should keep Mayweather and Pacquiao sharp.
“Para kundisyon,” said Pacquiao.
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