Justin Fortune, who is Manny Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach, does not expect Floyd Mayweather to entertain a rematch with the Filipino superstar.
Mayweather was ringside last month at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, and watched Pacquiao capture the WBA welterweight title with a twelve round decision win over undefeated Keith Thurman.
“I don’t think Floyd Mayweather Jr. will fight Manny after [the] Keith Thurman fight. But ultimately that’s Floyd’s decision and this is just my opinion,” Fortune told The Manila Times.
In the last few weeks, the boxer have exchanged words over social media.
The war of insults were begun by Mayweather - who became enraged after numerous articles discussed the possibility of him coming out of retirement to face Pacquiao.
But Fortune believes Mayweather is simply making statements to keep his name out there in the press.
“Manny won that fight [against Thurman] so I don’t think Floyd will fight him. Floyd has no intention to fight Manny. He just loves to be in the media. Manny doesn’t, Floyd does. He just started this social media war, and Manny doesn’t care,” Fortune said.
If they meet again, Fortune is confident that Pacquiao would win. The first time around, in May 2015, Mayweather won a twelve round unanimous decision.
“Manny is an active fighter, fighting top level guys, while Floyd is not. Floyd knows that, Manny knows that, I know that and you know that,” added Fortune. “I would love that fight to happen. If it happens, Manny [would] win. If that fight won’t happen, we fight someone else for a whole bunch of money.”
Mayweather retired from boxing in August 2017, after stopping UFC superstar Conor McGregor in the tenth round of a cross-sport boxing match.