Floyd Mayweather slams Manny Pacquiao for prematurely announcing rematch: “Time and a place”

By Josh Evanoff - February 20, 2024

It appears that boxing legend Floyd Mayweather is unhappy with Manny Pacquiao’s announcement in December.

Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather

At RIZIN 45 late last year, Manny Pacquiao was in attendance. Midway through the show, the previously retired boxer headed into the ring alongside promoter Nobuyuki Sakakibara. There, the former eight-division champion confirmed plans to fight in 2024 and even announced plans to rematch Floyd Mayweather.

Now, talks between ‘Money’ and Manny Pacquiao have seemingly been going on since their 2015 ‘Fight of the Century’. For those who remember that bout, it took place after years of negotiations between the two stars. By the time they finally met, both men were on the verge of retirement, and past their prime. Still, Floyd Mayweather picked up a unanimous decision victory that night in Las Vegas.

Nearly a decade on from that first fight, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao seemed poised to run it back. However, it seems that the announcement from ‘PacMan’ was a bit premature. Speaking on a recent interview with The Pivot Podcast, ‘Pretty Boy Floyd’ opened up on the potential rematch between the two.

There, Floyd Mayweather declined to confirm that the rematch was officially on. Instead, the former champion slammed Manny Pacquiao, for announcing that the fight was on. Just based on his comments, it’s clear that there’s still a lot of negotiating that needs to make these two face off again.

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Floyd Mayweather, Manny Pacquiao

Image: Express

Boxing legend Floyd Mayweather slams Manny Pacquiao for announcing rematch

“Manny Pacquiao spoke about that, and he shouldn’t have.” Floyd Mayweather stated in a recent interview with The Pivot Podcast. “Because there’s a time and a place for everything. I’m not going to say he’s right [about the fight happening] or he’s wrong. I don’t have to say anything. Just by you saying my name, they gave me a check for four million. I don’t like to throw certain individuals under the bus, because we don’t do that.”

He continued, [But], he said my name when he wasn’t supposed to. Remember, I said there’s a time and a place. Remember, I want you guys to go check out Manny Pacquiao. When he got upset a few times, he said ‘Oh Floyd, you’re using my name, you’re using my name’, he got famous because they said this could be the guy that could possibly dethrone the king.”

“Did it happen?” Floyd Mayweather concluded. “Absolutely not. Was he easy? Absolutely.”

In the event that Floyd Mayweather declines to face Manny Pacquiao again, the latter has many other options. Earlier this month, the manager for ‘PacMan’ stated that the legend was interested in several boxing matches moving forward. Beyond Mayweather, he wants Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis, and former UFC champion Conor McGregor.

What do you make of these comments from the boxing legend? Do you want to see Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao 2? Who do you have winning in that potential matchup?