Mayweather Stands Firm On Rescinding Rematch Offer

By Jake Donovan

Event handlers are still awaiting final numbers to see just how high the financial bar has been set by Floyd Mayweather’s 12-round win over Manny Pacquiao. The May 2 event at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas was already targeted to shatter all box office records, but current projections have Pay-Per-View numbers going through the roof.

Mayweather was guaranteed a record $120 million long before a ticket, Pay-Per-View unit or sponsorship space was even sold. The pound-for-pound and box office king will likely add another $100 million in revenue upside in the coming weeks, as even conservative estimates have the event generating well north of $400 million.

With that much money on the table, it was only natural for the subject of a rematch to surface. The fight wasn’t remotely competitive, a factor Pacquiao has attributed to a shoulder injury he sustained long ago and that was re-aggravated during training camp and during fight night.

Mayweather was briefly on board with the idea of a sequel, informing ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith via text that he would be willing to do it again either later this fall or sometime next year. When he had a chance to think it over, the unbeaten welterweight king had a change of heart.

“I don't want to do business with them anymore,” Mayweather (48-0, 26KOs) told Showtime’s Jim Grey in his first exclusive interview since the May 2 event. “I'm a professional. It’s bad business on that side. I knew it, I knew it, I knew it, I knew it - excuses, excuses, excuses.

“I'm upset. Did I text Stephen A. Smith and say I will fight him again? Yeah, but I change my mind.”

When reminded by Grey of what stands to be made with a rematch, and also the fact that Mayweather has changed in his mind on similar topics in the past, the boxer stood his ground on the subject. 

“At this particular time, no,” Mayweather said on the possibility of reconsidering his stance. “Because he's a sore loser and he's a coward. You don't do that. I just don't like that. That's a coward move.

“I don't even want to say anything bad about Manny, but he's leaving me no choice.”

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox