The Manila Times

Mayweather no longer fighting Pacquiao

BY NIEL VICTOR C. MASOY

IS undefeated Floyd Mayweather open to fighting fellow boxing great Manny Pacquiao again? “The Money” shut down that possibility, not even in an exhibition match, saying that he has already retired from the sport and he’s not keen on demanding his 45-year-old body to train for a serious fight.

“I retired from the sport, I didn’t let the sport retire me. I’m not going to get in there — no former fighters, former world champions putting any more abuse on my body,” said Mayweather in a presser held by Rizin Fighting Federation.

“I retired for a reason. I’m here to have fun, enjoy myself, sometimes three rounds, sometimes eight rounds with guys that’s going to help me entertain the people. I’m not going to take punishment to the point where I can barely walk and barely talk.”

Enjoy himself, Mayweather did on Sunday when he knocked out Japanese mixed martial arts fighter Mikuru Asakura at the end of the second round in their exhibition match at the Saitama Super Arena, where Pacquiao was actually watching from ringside.

“Manny had a great career but boxing retired Manny, Manny didn’t retire from boxing. There’s a difference. I will continue to do what I wanna do and dictate and control because early on in my career, I made a lot of sacrifices and put in a lot of hard work so that I can dictate and control things in my career once my career is over,” said Mayweather.

Mayweather finished his professional career undefeated, scoring 50 wins including his unanimous decision triumph over Pacquiao in a bout dubbed as “The Fight of the Century” in 2015.

After retiring in 2017, Mayweather has been busy doing exhibition fights where he still earns millions of dollars.

On the other hand, Pacquiao, 43, retired last year and finished his career with 62 wins, eight losses and two draws.

Pacquiao is also set to do his first exhibition fight against South Korean mixed martial artist DK Yoo in South Korea in December.

Sports

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2022-09-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-09-27T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://digitaledition.manilatimes.net/article/282342568713304

The Manila Times