SEOUL, South Korea — Floyd Mayweather dominated the Q&A portion during Friday’s press conference hyping Manny Pacquiao’s special exhibition bout with Korean mixed-martial arts sensation DK Yoo this Sunday at the KINTEX in the satellite city of Goyang.
Pacquiao, who dropped a decision to Mayweather in May 2015, feels the unbeaten American remains “scared-to-death” to grant him a rematch.
And if Mayweather decides to unretire, Pacquiao says he will do the same thing to settle the issue between the two pound-for-pound claimants.
Since announcing his retirement several years ago, Mayweather has fed on a steady diet of boxers-wannabe and MMA practitioners.
“If he wants a real fight, he can fight Manny Pacquiao,” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao fought with an injured shoulder when he met Mayweather more than seven years ago and if they ever get to meet in a second meeting, the outcome’s going to be disastrous for his fancied foe.
“It will not last 12 rounds (if we fight a rematch),” Pacquiao said.
But whether it’s going to happen will depend on Mayweather.
“It will be his decision. It’s up to him. It’s his prerogative, his decision. It’s up to him.”
Their fight generated more than $600 million in revenue and Pacquiao, who turns 44 on 17 December, reveals the interest in a rematch remains high.
Still, Pacquiao seems to be testing the waters for a possible comeback in 2023 with or without Mayweather.
The Yoo encounter will be “a good stepping stone to a comeback in boxing,” Pacquiao, who retired 16 months ago after losing to Cuban Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas, said.
“Good stepping stone to comeback in boxing. We’ll see after this Sunday’s exhibition,” he said.
Yoo, an expert in six MMA disciplines, including taekwondo, judo and wushu, will attempt to ruin those plans but is a longshot to pull it off.
Triller, a fast-rising promotional outfit, is staging this event in partnership with World Entertainment, Well Biotec, Sambu, SkySports, SynoTex, Adidas and Galaxy Corp.
It will be held late-morning of Sunday to accommodate the large US audience that has keenly awaited Pacquiao’s ring return since August last year.
Pacquiao’s housing project in Mindanao and the people of war-torn Ukraine will benefit from the proceeds, according to the Filipino ring great.
Pacquiao arrived here Monday evening after spending almost two months training in General Santos City.
“I am excited to be back in the ring and this could be an introduction to a real fight,” Pacquiao said.
Next year, that real fight could be against Mayweather or against somebody who doesn’t resemble a circus freak.
