The Filipino veteran says the present uncertainty around their proposed rematch reminds him of the long stretch between 2010 and 2015, when multiple attempts to finalize a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. repeatedly broke down after appearing near completion.
Pacquiao said that period left an enduring impression, shaping how he views the newest round of negotiations.
“Before the previous fight, we were coping with him for like eight years. There have been so many guarantees, and I believe of all of the times I signed a contract pondering that was the one,” Manny Pacquiao said. “That was no less than five years, with plenty of alibis.”
Even after agreements have reportedly been signed for a September rematch, Pacquiao shouldn’t be treating the fight as secure. Mayweather’s recent public comments describing the bout as an exhibition and questioning the venue have introduced fresh uncertainty.
By calling it an exhibition, Floyd protects his 50-0 legacy. If it’s only for fun, a loss doesn’t officially tarnish his perfect record. Pacquiao is 47 and attempting to stay fight-ready, which is way harder to take care of during a moving goal date than it’s for a younger fighter.
Mayweather has at all times been the one who dictates terms. Changing the venue or the principles on the eleventh hour is his way of reminding everyone who the A-side is.
Floyd is 49, and Manny is 47. Every month they delay, the casual fan interest drops. Nonetheless, Mayweather may imagine that the need they/won’t they drama actually builds more hype for the eventual Netflix stream than a smooth, skilled rollout would.
“Him still changing his mind. You could honor your commitment. This time, there’s no reason for alibis or excuses,” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao’s frustration feels completely authentic, and truthfully, it’s hard responsible him for being blunt. When he says there’s “no reason for alibis or excuses,” he is actually calling Floyd’s bluff in front of the entire world.
Manny is specializing in his fame because the people’s champ who fights anyone, anywhere. By publicly calling out the “alibis,” he’s attempting to box Floyd right into a corner. He knows that if this falls through now, the general public narrative will shift entirely onto Mayweather being the one who ducked a legitimate skilled rematch in favor of a low-risk exhibition.
For years, the excuse narrative actually followed Pacquiao. Remember the shoulder injury talk after the 2015 fight?. By utilizing that specific word, “alibis,” he’s effectively flipping the script. He’s positioning himself because the veteran who has grown past the drama, while implying Floyd remains to be stuck in the identical manipulative patterns he used a decade ago.
It looks like Manny is finished with the dance partner routine. He’s putting the ball in Floyd’s court: either show up for an actual fight at The Sphere or admit to the world that the “TBE” (The Best Ever) moniker has just a few conditions attached to it.