Manny Pacquiao has began coaching once more simply 12 days earlier than the date he was imagined to face Floyd Mayweather, elevating the prospect that boxing’s richest rematch may lastly be slipping away for good.
Pacquiao posted a 21-second coaching clip as September 19 approaches, the date initially set for his skilled rematch with Mayweather at Sphere in Las Vegas earlier than it was pushed again per week to September 26.
The sight of Pacquiao again at work would ordinarily gasoline hypothesis that Mayweather II may very well be revived. This time, it may imply exactly the alternative.
Pacquiao is being linked with different potential opponents, together with Liam Paro, Devin Haney and Shakur Stevenson, after ready for a Mayweather battle that’s now indefinitely postponed.
World Boxing Information requested MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons particularly about experiences linking Pacquiao with Stevenson.
“I don’t know something about it,” Gibbons instructed WBN.
Requested individually concerning the Mayweather rematch, nonetheless, Gibbons gave a much more definitive reply.
“It’s gone for this 12 months for certain.”
Mayweather Working Out of Time
That leaves Mayweather with a choice to make if he nonetheless intends to honor the settlement and face Pacquiao professionally in 2027.
Pacquiao entered 2026 pursuing one other world championship after drawing with Mario Barrios in July 2025. He was negotiating to problem WBA champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero earlier than the chance to lastly avenge his 2015 defeat to Mayweather grew to become the precedence.
By February, Mayweather-Pacquiao II was set for September 19 at Sphere, with Netflix hooked up to stream the occasion worldwide.
The rematch subsequently collapsed amid authorized and monetary issues surrounding the proposed occasion and was postponed indefinitely.
Now Pacquiao seems unwilling to waste any extra time.
At 47 and with 48 quick approaching, each various battle carries appreciable threat. Pacquiao already has eight skilled defeats, and one other loss towards a youthful elite opponent may significantly harm no matter urge for food stays for an expert Mayweather rematch.
There may be one other issue doubtlessly closing the window.
Pacquiao has been appointed Lead Convenor of the Nationwide Anti-Poverty Fee within the Philippines, returning the previous senator to a big public-service function.
The appointment doesn’t imply Pacquiao is about to lastly retire from boxing for good. Nevertheless, mixed along with his age and the opponents now being mentioned, his subsequent look may conceivably develop into his ultimate skilled battle.
Pacquiao Might Transfer On
There may be an irony in how shortly the scenario has modified.
Pacquiao sacrificed invaluable time and put his world-title ambitions apart when Mayweather II grew to become a sensible risk. Mayweather may now discover himself on the opposite aspect of that equation.
If Pacquiao accepts one other battle and loses for a ninth time, resurrecting their rivalry as an expert contest in 2027 turns into significantly more durable to promote. If Pacquiao wins after which returns his consideration totally to public life, the chance may disappear anyway.
Mayweather and Pacquiao have already spent greater than a decade looking for the correct circumstances to battle once more.
Twelve days earlier than their unique date at Sphere, Pacquiao is coaching once more.
This time, Mayweather gained’t be the person standing throughout the ring from him.
In regards to the Creator
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing Information (WBN), a BWAA-acknowledged boxing information web site based in 2010. A veteran boxing reporter with 16 years of expertise, he has interviewed world champions, damaged worldwide exclusives, and reported ringside from main occasions. His work is revealed worldwide by way of WBN and distributed on platforms together with Apple Information.
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