Floyd Mayweather has agreed to fight Manny Pacquiao in a rematch fight in a year's time, according to reports in the United States.
The American fighter beat the Filipino on points in a hotly-anticipated fight in Las Vegas on the weekend.
And now Mayweather is said to have told ESPN journalist Stephen A. Smith that we would be willing to fight Pacquiao again - once he recoveres from shoulder surgery to repair a tear in his rotator cuff.
"I will fight him in a year after his surgery," Mayweather is reported to have told Smith in a text message.
The move is something of an about turn for Mayweather, who said after the fight: "My last fight is in September, and then it's time for me to hang it up."
Meanwhile Pacquiao's legal woes continue as he is being sued in US court for allegedly not disclosing his shoulder injury.
Two people in Nevada filed a lawsuit on Tuesday against Pacquiao, alleging the boxer defrauded ticket buyers, television viewers and gamblers by failing to disclose a pre-bout shoulder injury ahead of his fight against Mayweather.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Nevada and seeks status as a class action. It asks for all relief allowed by law.
The fighter could already be in legal hot water after failing to disclose his shoulder injury before his fight.
The Filipino lost Saturday's clash in Vegas by unanimous decision, but complained of a shoulder problem in the aftermath of the defeat.
In a pre-fight questionnaire, one of the questions read: "Have you had any injury to your shoulders, elbows, or hands that needed evaluation or examination? If yes, explain..." Pacquiao ticked 'no'.
The only things Pacquiao disclosed in the questionnaire were the medicines which he had taken in the last month.
Video: Manny Pacquiao's post-fight press conference
Accoridng to the document, by signing, both Pacquiao and his adviser Michael Koncz "hereby swear under penalty of perjury, that the above information is true and correct to the best of my knowledge".
“Disclosure is a big thing for us, and honesty,” Cisco Aguilar, the Nevada Athletic Commissioner chairman told the Daily News on Monday.
“The commission at some point will have to discuss (Pacquiao's medical questionnaire). I've got to run through the process with the (Nevada) Attorney General (Adam Laxalt). But they do sign that document under the penalty of perjury.
“We will gather all the facts and follow the circumstances," he continued. “At some point we will have some discussion. As a licensee of the commission you want to make sure fighters are giving you up-to-date information.
“The medications he was taking were disclosed on his medical questionnaire, but not the actual injury.
“This isn't our first fight. This is our business. There is a process, and when you try to screw with the process, it's not going to work for you.“
In pictures: Mayweather vs Pacquiao
If found guilty, Pacquiao could face anything between one and four years in prison, and a fine of up to $5,000.
In his client's defence, Koncz told the New York Times: "Number one, Manny didn't check the box. I checked it. It was just an inadvertent mistake. If I was trying to hide anything, would I have listed all the medications on the sheet that he intended to use?
"We weren't trying to hide anything. I just don't think I read the questionnaire correctly.
"I’m going to take full responsibility for what happened. The wrong box was checked. But I think part of the responsibility also lies with the commission. Wouldn't you ask a question about all these medications (on the questionnaire)?
"The bottom line is that we weren't trying to hide anything. If we had wanted to, we could have done the injection at the hotel before the fight and nobody would have known but we didn't want to hide anything."
Pacquiao will need surgery to repair the problem, which could rule out the possibility of a September rematch with Mayweather.
After the fight, Pacquiao said of his shoulder injury: “We wanted a shot for numbing the shoulder but we respect the decision of the Commission it was getting better and better but was still not 100 per cent.
In pictures: Filipino fans watch Mayweather vs Pacquiao
“Three weeks before the fight, I had to skip training a couple of day because of the injury – I had an MRI scan and there was a tear in my right shoulder.
“I did my best but my best wasn't good enough. I don't want to make alibis and reasons. I'm happy that for 12 rounds I fought a good fight. I thought I won, but I have to review the video to see what happened.
“The fight was still good. Mayweather is a great boxer, give him the credit, he has won and he's proved it.”
Mayweather vs Pacquiao - round-by-round summary
Pre-fight
It's six years too late, but Mayweather and Pacquiao finally fight each other in what is dubbed "Fight of the Century".
Round 1
It’s taken five years and and $300million but boxing’s Big Two finally touched gloves at 4.58am BST and hardly a punch was traded in anger. Cagey start by both fighters.
Round 2
Pacquiao, realises he needs to get ahead early, tries to take control but again no real initiative from either fighter. Manny tries to control the centre of the ring but without much success.
Round 3
Mayweather beginning to roll his shoulders in that illusive style of his but no fighter can take the initiative Pacquiao needs to get on his bike but can’t get the combinations going. Even again.
Round 4
The Pacman at last asserting authority and trying to take control. First action of the fight with Pacquiao pinning Mayweather on the ropes. The Pacman’s best round so far.
Round 5
Instead of pressing forward, Manny allows Mayweather to control the middle of the ring and and get his right cross going for the first time in the fight. Another even round.
Round 6
Will this Fight of the Century ever get going? Mayweather is getting $15million a round and is hardly breaking sweat, happy to soak up the pressure on his arms. The Moneymaker nicks round.
Round 7
The cameras zoom in on Beyonce and she is probably thinking her sister Solange could put up and better show. Hardly any pinches thrown in anger. Mayweather takes round without much effort.
Round 8
The Pacman is finally stung into action and connects with a right cross early on but cannot sustain the pressure throughout the round. Mayweather gets on his bike to avoid problems.
Round 9
Three quarters of the way through and no fighter wants to take control. Manny continues to come forward and does enough to win the round but with hardly any punches thrown.
Round 10
The cornermen try to sting their men into action but this is turning into a bore fest. It suits Mayweather but if these two are the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet they are conning us.
Round 11
Mayweather has hardly had to break sweat. He is pulling off the Great Las Vegas heist and looks more like Danny Ocean than the oustanding boxer he is meant to be. Steals round again.
Round 12
Heads are being shaken in the crowd. The Pacman has not turned up for this fight and Mayweather starts to dance his way out of harms way. He is the
No comments:
Post a Comment