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Espinoza believes Mayweather-Pacquiao II possible if fans demand it

Fighters Network
11
Apr
Photo by Naoki Fukuda

Floyd Mayweather Jr. tees of on Andre Berto last September. Photo: Naoki Fukuda

Showtime boxing czar Stephen Espinoza said he’s spoken to Floyd Mayweather Jr. about his retirement plans and the impression he got is that Mayweather may come back and pursue another fight, such as a rematch with Manny Pacquiao, if there is enough fan interest in the bout.

Espinoza added that Pacquiao’s notable effort against Tim Bradley on Saturday should bolster the public’s appetite for another fight between the two superstars. While both have stated they are now retired, Espinoza spoke as if they will fight again — for the right opportunity.

“I thought Pacquiao looked good, looked as good as he has looked in the last three or four years,” Espinoza told RingTV.com on Monday. “He was active. He showed the power. He was quick. But really in terms of a Mayweather rematch, it’s really up to the audience, to the fans and the writers. I know from talking to Floyd — if there’s demand for a particular fight — I think he will give it strong consideration. But I think this is one where we’re not going to put the cart before the horse. If people are interested in that fight then I think they’ll make their voices heard and we’ll start working on it.”

One fighter whom Espinoza doesn’t believe Mayweather (49-0, 26 knockouts) will come out of retirement for is Adrien Broner, who beat up Ashley Theophane on April 1 in a card that Mayweather promoted. After his win, Broner called out Mayweather, his former mentor. Mayweather seemed to laugh off the challenge.



“My sense — I didn’t get a chance to ask him about a Broner fight that night but just reading his reaction — I’m not sure that it was really all that interesting to him, just judging by his reaction right after the fight,” Espinoza said.

Espinoza believes a rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao picked up traction after Pacquiao’s convincing win against Bradley, whom he dropped twice en route to a wide decision in their rubber match. Pacquiao showed more, Espinoza said it could be reasoned, than he did last May when he lost a listless decision to Mayweather.

“It’s certainly more interesting now than it was a couple weeks ago,” Espinoza said of a potential rematch. “With that performance, what Manny showed is that he still has the ability to perform at a high level and arguably at a higher level than he did last May. So whatever the reason, if people believe that the outcome or really the fight will be different this time, I think there could be some interest that is building for that fight.”

Mayweather announced his retirement following his easy decision victory against Andre Berto last September, the last of a lucrative six-fight deal he had with Showtime. Pacquiao (58-6-2, 28 KOs) did the same after Saturday’s match.

The two participated in boxing’s richest ever boxing match last May, one that grossed more than $600 million, even if it was panned by fans. Mayweather waltzed to victory, easily out-boxing a mostly inactive Pacquiao. After the match, Pacquiao, a southpaw, said he aggravated a shoulder injury early in the fight that prevented him from throwing his right hook. In discussing his retirement plans, Mayweather has been cryptic, saying he’s not sure what the future holds. Pacquiao insisted after the Bradley fight that he had promised his family he’d retire, but said, “My heart is 50/50.”

Espinoza believes that Mayweather is surveying the landscape for a matchup that intrigues him. While no one knows for sure what Mayweather will do, Espinoza did his best to give the public a peak into his retirement psyche.

“My sense is that Floyd is waiting for something to sort of peak his interest,” Espinoza said. “And if there is somebody out there that people want him to fight and there’s a big push or if he sees a fighter rise up that’s all of a sudden a big challenge to him – I think that’s what he’s looking for, something that will motivate him to get back into camp.”

 

Mitch Abramson is a former reporter for the New York Daily News. He can be reached on Twitter at: @Mabramson13.

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