Hours after Manny Pacquiao was rumored to be ready to sign to fight an alternative opponent for the summer, Floyd Mayweather took to Instagram to tease an imminent announcement.
Speculation was already rife that Mayweather was in training for a return to action. Pacquiao has long been the favorite to land the gig.
The boxing world will ultimately find out on Wednesday whether or not Mayweather will indeed don the gloves again.
Mayweather had outlined several fights were on the cards in an exhibition capacity in 2019. Thus far, none of these promises have come to fruition.
With Pacquiao staying silent as Mayweather takes the reigns, the only in-ring outcomes can be a rematch confirmation or the reaffirming of his retirement in an official capacity.
The latter just doesn’t seem logical.
Without a competitive bout since 2015, ‘Money’ has resisted attempts for a comeback on several occasions.
Only a cross-codes battle with Conor McGregor, which made Mayweather a quarter of a billion dollars, was worth getting out of bed for.
There was a meaningless fight with Tenshin Nasukawa. Although that contest wasn’t even shown live on US TV.
Now, Mayweather has possibly his last ever chance to make another nine-figure check opposite the ‘Pacman’.
Should he reiterate his decision to refrain from trading blows, Mayweather will not get another opportunity.
As things stand, projections ‘MayPac 2’ could hit over two million Pay-Per-View buys would be enough to see both fighters take home a huge check.
Facing anybody else just wouldn’t generate the same business.
ANNOUNCEMENT
There’s the slight potential Mayweather would consider competing in another code. But this scenario hasn’t happened during the American’s entire 23-year career.
The five-weight king has threatened an MMA or kickboxing run but ultimately has decided against it.
It seems Mayweather will confirm a stunning comeback to action, or throw a curveball by making a completely different ‘announcement’ as the major media puppet master.
Should Mayweather finally quell rumors of a 2019 bout, Pacquiao will then turn to Keith Thurman, Danny Garcia or Shawn Porter.
Crunching Mayweather numbers next to a purse for that welterweight trio would pale in comparison.
All will be revealed this week.
