AIDAN POLLARD
Sports Editor
Get ready for pay-per view (or to find a stream on Reddit), because Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are going at it again.
The fight first started gaining traction after the Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin rematch, where both Mayweather and Pacquiao were in attendance. After the two ran into each other at the fight, Mayweather posted an announcement for the rematch on Instagram.
“I’m coming back to fight Manny Pacquiao this year. Another 9 figure pay day on the way,” said Mayweather in the post.
A 2018 fight announced only months before is an extremely quick turn-around in boxing. Murmurs of the first fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao started in 2009, and they didn’t lace up until 2015.
A later tweet detailed that Mayweather is also planning a comeback fight in Tokyo before the rematch against Pacquiao.
A tweet from boxing writer Mike Coppinger later confirmed that the fight will be taking place on either Dec. 1 or Dec. 8 in Las Vegas.
In their first matchup, Mayweather won in a 12 round unanimous decision.
The fight garnered a massive amount of media attention, and it was billed as “Fight of the Century” and “Battle for Greatness.”
Mayweather and Pacquiao’s first fight had been desired by boxing fans since 2009, but the fight itself would not take place until 2015.
The fight started gaining traction after Pacquiao gained extreme popularity and the rank of second best fighter, pound-for-pound, in the world, right behind Mayweather.
However, Mayweather was retired at the time with a perfect record of 39-0.
When the fight was announced (after Mayweather’s return), his record was still a perfect 47-0.
Prices for the 2015 fight ranged from $1,500 to $7,500, and the fans got their money’s worth.
The fight lasted a full 12 rounds before a unanimous decision was made declaring Mayweather as the victor.
At the time of the fight, Mayweather was 38 and Pacquiao was 36.
Now Mayweather is over 40, and even though he has proved himself time and time again as a fantastic fighter (just look at the Conor McGregor fight), at some point age has to get to him.
Some odds right now have the odds at -265 to +215 in favor of Mayweather, and most odds have Mayweather winning the fight.
But at some point, something’s gotta break.
Mayweather is a tried and true legendary fighter, but his reign has to be coming to an end.
The match will probably go a full 12 rounds if you ask me, but I think Mayweather is going down.