The boxing world has met reports of a potential Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch with a near-unanimous wave of criticism and ridicule, as fans argue the fight is a soulless money grab that “nobody asked for.”
The strong fan disapproval, which exploded on social media, highlights the lingering disappointment from their first encounter in 2015. That bout, which Mayweather won by unanimous decision, shattered PPV records (4.6 million buys) but was widely panned as lackluster.
It was a fight fans felt was already past its due date, a feeling compounded by the post-fight revelation that Pacquiao had fought with a torn rotator cuff.
Now, a decade later, Mike Coppinger of The Ring Magazine reports that a rematch is being discussed, with Netflix-a new entrant into the boxing world-being considered as the broadcaster.
Fans trashed Pacquiao-Mayweather 2
The reaction from the sport’s fanbase was immediate and brutal. “It was 6 years late, 11 years ago,” one user on X (formerly Twitter) responded to the news. “Less of a rematch and more like a fight to pay off their debts,” another joked.
The backlash highlights the growing tension between pure sporting competition and the rise of lucrative exhibition bouts. “Everyone is taking advantage of the Netflix bag,” one comment read. “We definitely don’t need to see this fight again, but we’ll still watch it.”
Others were less forgiving. “Boxing is so trash, man,” lamented one user, while another stated, “I promise you we didn’t ask for this fight.” Combat sports journalist Luke Thomas captured the majority opinion, echoing the sentiment that this is a fight fans simply do not want to see.
Details of the Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch are still unknown
The logistics of the potential bout remain unclear. It is not known if it would be a professional contest or an exhibition. The discussions also must contend with the fighters’ other commitments.
Mayweather is already scheduled for an exhibition against Mike Tyson next spring, and Pacquiao just returned from retirement for a draw against Mario Barrios in July.
While the report only confirms that discussions are taking place, the overwhelming public response sends a clear message that revisiting a fight many felt was a letdown in 2015 is a tough sell for a weary fanbase.
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