Floyd Mayweather has reportedly texted an ESPN reporter to say that he would be open to giving Manny Pacquiao a rematch in a year after he recovers from shoulder surgery.
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Mayweather secured a unanimous points decision win over his rival at the MGM Grand on Saturday night, as he dominated for most of the bout by dictating the tempo and range.
As a result, he successfully moved to 48-0 in his professional career ahead of what was believed to be his final fight in September with his CBS and Showtime contract set to expire.
However, it has been suggested that the WBC, WBO and WBA welterweight champion may well be open to the idea of facing Pacquiao for a second time, with the fight unlikely to happen until next year with the Filipino set to undergo surgery this week for a torn rotator cuff.
It is understood that the injury and rehabilitation process will keep Pac-Man sidelined for up to nine months, and so it would be a year before he has fully recovered and gone through a training camp to prepare.
“I will fight him in a year after his surgery,” Mayweather reportedly texted to ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith, according to Boxing Scene.
The controversy over Pacquiao’s shoulder injury is set to rumble on, with Boxing Scene suggesting he could even face disciplinary action from the Nevada boxing commission – having failed to notify them of his problem prior to the fight.
The former WBO champion requested an anti-inflammatory shot on the night just hours before he was set to enter the ring, but it was rejected and now the NSAC is expected to conduct an investigation into the matter.
Although Mayweather insisted that his last fight would be in September, there are numerous arguments to make in favour of having the rematch. The 38-year-old is unlikely to make as much money against anyone else, and if the scheduled timeline holds, the man who has made the MGM Grand Garden Arena his home could potentially fight at the new arena which opens next April.
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