Mistulang binuksan na ni Floyd Mayweather Jr. ang pinto para pagbigyan ang rematch na hinihirit ng dati nitong karibal na si Sen. Manny Pacquiao.
Una nang iginiit ni Mayweather na hindi na raw ito sasabak pa sa isang boxing match, at sinabi rin ng kanyang advisor na si Leonard Ellerbe na “zero interest” na raw ang undefeated American sa posibilidad na muli silang magtuos ng fighting senator.
Pero sa isang panayam, inihayag ni Mayweather na oras lamang daw ang makapagsasabi kung magkakaroon ito ng comeback sa ibabaw ng ring.
“We don’t know … only time will tell,” ani Mayweather.
Nitong nakaraang linggo nang magpatutsadahan ang dalawang kampeon sa social media matapos ang panalo ng 40-anyos na si Pacquiao kontra kay Keith Thurman upang maagaw ang WBA “super” welterweight belt.
Nag-umpisa ito makaraang ihayag ni Mayweather ang kanyang pagkadismaya dahil palagi raw naidudugtong ang pangalan nito kay Pacquiao sa hindi magandang paraan.
“This man’s entire legacy and career has been built off its association with my name and it’s about time you all stop using my brand for clout chasing and clickbait and let that man’s name hold weight of its own.
“For years, all you heard was that ‘Floyd is afraid of Manny Pacquiao’. But what’s funny is, when we finally fought, I won so easily that everyone had to eat their words!”
Dahil dito, naasar si Pacquiao at hinamon ng rematch si Mayweather, na sinopla naman ng huli.
“I was only at your fight supervising you, my employee, as any real BOSS would do. You made $10million for 12 rounds, when I just made $9m in under three minutes playing around in an exhibition with a pizza delivery guy!
“I beat you mentally, physically and financially! Remember, you fight because you have to, I fight when I want to!”
Samantala, una nang sinabi ng isang boxing analyst na mas maganda raw kung si Mayweather na ang huling makakatunggali ni Pacquiao.
Sa panayam ng Bombo Radyo, sinabi ni Atty. Ed Tolentino na kahit na “contractually obligated” pa si Pacquiao na sumabak sa dalawa pang laban, unahin na raw dapat nito si Mayweather at magretiro na pagkatapos.
“Kahit na mayroon pang two fights obligation si Pacquiao sa Premier Boxing Champions [ni] Al Haymon, kapag ang isang boksingero ay nagdesisyong magretiro na, hindi na puwedeng i-enforce ang obligation na ‘yun,” ani Tolentino.
“Kung sakali mang sasagarin talaga ni Pacquiao, kung pwede unahin na ‘yung Mayweather [rematch], ‘yung huli kahit na mayroon pa siyang natitirang isang laban, i-waive na niya at magretiro na siya.”
