Forget any talks of a Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao rematch next year. It's not going to happen.
In spite of text-messaging ESPN's Stephen A. Smith on Tuesday, saying he would grant Pacquiao a rematch next year, Mayweather is no longer interested.
The undefeated champion feels like Pacquiao used his shoulder injury – which turned out to being a torn rotator cuff that required surgery – as an excuse for his unanimous-decision loss to Mayweather last Saturday night. That's why the winner is having a change of heart.
"Did I text Stephen A. Smith and say I will fight him again? Yeah, but I change my mind. At this particular time, no, because he's a sore loser and he's a coward," Mayweather said during a Showtime interview that will air Saturday night, according to ESPN. "If you lost, accept the loss and say, 'Mayweather, you were the better fighter.' "
On Tuesday, Mayweather said he'd be willing to wait until Pacquiao recovers from his shoulder injury and surgery to fight him again next year. Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, even said April 2016 would be a good time for a rematch — going as far as to suggest that it could be held at MGM's new 20,000-seat arena.
Well ... looks like that won't be happening. The question is, will people be upset? If the "Fight of The Century" fizzled into a low-action affair that flat-out disappointed boxing fans, how would a rematch look?
Despite Mayweather's change of heart, we could easily see him changing his mind once again — if the right kind of money is put on the table for a possible rematch. Count on that.
Be sure to follow T-Lounge on Twitter and visit our Facebook page.
