RIZIN Fighting Federation has announced a rematch between boxing legends Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.
The revelation came during RIZIN's New Year's Eve extravaganza at the Saitama Super Arena. Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao addressed the audience, expressing his excitement: "I’m ready... Next year, I hope to see you here in Japan with a big fight against… Floyd Mayweather!”
The reaction from those in attendance included audible gasps as CEO Nobuyiki Sakakibara confirmed Mayweather’s involvement.
Manny Pacquiao, the eight-division world champion, retired in 2021 with a record of 62-8-2. Although retired, he competed in an exhibition match against DK Yoo in December 2022, as an addition to his successful boxing resume. He is scheduled to take on Buakaw Banchamek in January 2024.
It makes next year notable as he also plans to enter the ring against the undefeated American boxer, Floyd Mayweather, who airs an immaculate record of 50-0 and hung up his gloves officially in 2017.
Mayweather's relationship with RIZIN runs deep with notable knockouts against Tenshin Nasukawa in 2018 and more recently Mikuru Asakura in 2022.
The enthusiasm around Pacquiao at age 45 and Mayweather at age 47 highlights excitement across fan bases despite their age.
From their first meeting in 2015 where Mayweather won via unanimous decision—a bout that garnered phenomenal commercial success with a staggering 4.6 million PPV buys—the sports world has keenly anticipated this tilt. However, an air of caution persists given RIZIN's previous once-planned exhibition for Pacquiao that didn't occur.
Specifics about whether this proposed spectacle would be classed as an exhibition or a professional fight are still unrevealed. Nonetheless, RIZIN aims to orchestrate this fight next year.
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This event is a budding rivalry being reignited for another historical showcase between two of boxing's all-time greats. The certainty ahead is boxing enthusiasts will await detailed developments on one of the year’s pivotal moments precociously.