Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao teased a possible rematch against his former rival, the undefeated Floyd Mayweather, in 2024 after losing to him during their first bout in 2015.
Standing center stage at Rizin 45 in Saitama, Japan, the 45-year-old boxer said he would again enter the ring for a "big fight" in the country.
"I'm sorry for the last time that we promised that we're going to this year, but like [Rizin President Nobuyuki] Sakakibara-san explained, this year, I hope to see you here in Japan again with a big fight against…" Pacquiao told the audience, trailing off.
Sakakibara, finishing Pacquiao's sentence, announced his foe: "Floyd Mayweather."
The eight division champion signed with the Asian promotion in late 2022 for an exhibition bout against a Japanese foe in 2023, but it did not push through.
Pacquiao and Mayweather first went head-to-head in a 2015 superfight. The bout went all 12 rounds, with the American taking the victory through unanimous decision.
They were 36 and 38 years of age at the time, respectively, and nearing the end of their boxing careers. As of this writing, Pacquiao is 45 while Mayweather is 46.
Since their 2015 match, Pacquiao, a former senator, retired from professional boxing in 2021 after losing via unanimous decision to Cuban fighter Yordenis Ugas. He has taken part in exhibition bouts since then.
Pacquiao's professional record stands at 62 wins with 39 knockouts, eight losses, and two draws.
Meanwhile, Mayweather announced his retirement after beating mixed martial artist Conor McGregor in a boxing match via unanimous decision in 2017. Like Pacquiao, he has since fought in multiple exhibition bouts after ending his professional career.
Mayweather's professional record stands at 50 wins, 27 of which came by knockout.
Aside from the possible Mayweather rematch, Pacquiao is also slated to go toe-to-toe with Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek later this year in a boxing match, but no date has been set.
