Even as the world of boxing keeps moving forward with new stars and fresh rivalries, there remains an enduring fascination with the unfinished business between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. Nearly a decade after their historic 2015 bout—still the highest-grossing fight in boxing history—the possibility of a rematch continues to hover over the sport like an unresolved chapter. Now, that possibility is once again alive, but Pacquiao has made it clear: he will only step back in the ring with Mayweather if one significant condition is met.
The “Fight of the Century,” as it was billed, took place in May 2015 after years of speculation, contractual wrangling, and hype. In that first meeting, Mayweather outboxed Pacquiao over twelve rounds to win by unanimous decision, cementing his status as the era’s top defensive technician and master tactician. But many fans felt the fight failed to deliver the fireworks they had anticipated. The bout’s lack of drama, combined with Pacquiao later revealing he fought with a shoulder injury, left a sense of unfinished business that still fuels demand for a rematch today.
So what is Pacquiao’s condition for a sequel? According to the Filipino boxing icon, he will fight Mayweather again—if Mayweather officially comes out of retirement for a professional bout. This detail might seem trivial, but for Pacquiao, it makes all the difference. He has no interest in another exhibition. He wants a sanctioned, competitive fight that counts on both men’s professional records.
This is more than a simple demand—it’s a statement about legacy. Pacquiao has long been motivated not just by the payday that comes with a mega-fight but by his love of competition and his desire to prove himself at the highest level. In his eyes, a real rematch must have real stakes. After all, Pacquiao still stands as the only boxer in history to win world titles in eight different weight divisions—a feat unlikely to be matched anytime soon. He has nothing left to prove financially, but competitively, he still believes he has something to settle with Mayweather.
Mayweather, on the other hand, has shown little interest in risking his perfect 50-0 record since retiring from professional boxing in 2017 after defeating UFC star Conor McGregor. While Mayweather has stayed active in the public eye through lucrative exhibition fights with influencers, YouTubers, and kickboxers, he has always made it clear that these appearances are entertainment—nothing more, nothing less. The moment it’s an official fight, it’s a different conversation. His spotless record is one of the greatest selling points of his brand.
For fans, this conditional rematch is both tantalizing and improbable. On one hand, who wouldn’t want to see Pacquiao, now 46, test himself once more against the defensive genius of Mayweather, who at 48 still keeps himself in remarkable shape? The storyline writes itself: redemption for Pacquiao, another chance to prove who was truly the better fighter when both were healthy and motivated. On the other hand, Mayweather’s entire business model has been built around risk-free spectacle. A sanctioned fight means real training, real preparation, and real consequences. It’s hard to imagine him jeopardizing the pristine “0” next to his name—especially when he can make tens of millions dancing around the ring in glorified sparring matches instead.
Still, Pacquiao’s camp is optimistic. The Filipino legend has hinted that talks have been ongoing behind the scenes. Pacquiao has recently fought exhibitions himself but insists a real fight with Mayweather would be different. He claims to be in fighting shape and says his competitive fire has not dimmed. “If Floyd wants it, I’m ready,” Pacquiao has declared. “But it has to be official. It has to be a real fight.”
For boxing purists, the demand makes sense. A professional rematch would finally give fans a fight where both men are healthy, committed, and all in. It would be a fitting final chapter for two of this generation’s greatest champions.
Yet the reality remains that the biggest obstacle is Mayweather himself. He holds all the cards. Unless “Money” sees an incentive so massive that it outweighs the risk to his spotless record, the condition Pacquiao demands will likely remain unmet.
Until then, the dream of Pacquiao vs. Mayweather II will stay exactly that—a dream. But in boxing, stranger things have happened. And as long as both men keep dangling the possibility, fans will continue to hope that this unfinished rivalry will get the proper ending it deserves—inside the squared circle, with real stakes, and under the bright lights of the profe
ssional fight game.
