Manny Pacquiao is closer to having his rematch against Floyd Mayweather after the Philippine legend signed a contract with the US Premier Bowing Champions (PBC), an agreement announced Tuesday.
The 39-year-old boxer declared that he will end his illustrious career facing “the best boxers in the PBC” at the time of signing his agreement with the organization of Al Haymon, Mayweather’s close adviser.
“My team will work closely with Al Haymon for the remainder of my career with the goal of delivering the most anticipated matches against the best fighters in the PBC,” Pacquiao said in a statement.
“They are the matches that the fans want to see and what I want for the end of my career,” he added.
In July, the Philippine legend gave up his retirement to regain his World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight title by fast-lapping defending belt defender Lucas Matthysse of Argentina. It was his first win before the limit in 9 years.
“Broner, Adrien Broner,” Pacquiao responded last week during a charity evening in Manila, when asked for the name of his next opponent, adding that there was a “90%” chance of the fight taking place. “It is almost done, but not quite,” he declared.
“The new alliance will see Pacquiao’s team working with Haymon’s to pilot the rest of his illustrious career,” the statement added, without specifying whether he will fight Broner.
This deal could see a rematch against Mayweather, after their 2015 bout that generated a record 4.6 million on-demand purchases on television for a total of $ 600 million (536 million euros). Then the American won the points.
Undefeated Mayweather hasn’t fought since last year and his KO win against MMA specialist Conor McGregor. In September, he stated that he would abandon his retirement to fight Pacquiao again.
Pacquiao begins with Haymon a new stage in his 20-year professional career, led mainly by Bob Arum’s Top Rank organization.
“I wish him good luck, he is a formidable warrior and whatever he does in the future, he deserves it,” Arum explained on FightHub TV in Las Vegas this weekend. AFP