The rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao could still happen. This after Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum said that Pacquiao could get another crack at Mayweather next year.
Pacquiao will come out of his brief retirement to face reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Jessie Vargas on Nov. 5 in Las Vegas, USA Today reported. Arum said that if Pacquiao wins and proves he still has a lot of gas left in his tank, he might eventually get two big fights next year before calling it quits for good.
Arum told the Philippine Daily Inquirer that one of their top options is Terence Crawford, the undefeated World Boxing Council and World Boxing Organization super lightweight champion. The Nebraska native was actually considered for Pacquiao's November comeback fight before settling for Vargas.
Aside from Crawford, Arum said that they are not closing their doors on a possible rematch with Mayweather. The former pound-for-pound king scored a unanimous decision win over Pacquiao in the record-setting showdown in May 2015, where Pacquiao reportedly fought with an ailing shoulder.
Mayweather, who owns a perfect 49-0 professional record, retired after winning against Andre Berto in September last year. The Grand Rapids, Michigan native has said all along that he is not planning to return to boxing and he is happy with his retirement.
However, Arum believes Mayweather is sending mixed signals. The veteran promoter is still convinced that Mayweather will fight one more time to chase the 50th win of his illustrious boxing career.
Arum declared that he wants it to be against Pacquiao because the Filipino boxing icon was not in his best shape during the big-money fight last year. The Hall of Famer is quite confident that Pacquiao, with a healthy shoulder, will win if the two boxing superstars collide again in 2017.
"I thought it was a very close fight. I thought Manny could have won that fight," Arum said. "When they fight again, if they fight again, I have no doubt that Manny will win."
Pacquiao has a 58-6-2 record with 38 knockout victories. The 37-year-old boxing icon, who is currently a senator in the Philippines, won against Timothy Bradley in their third fight last April.
Watch the highlights of the record-breaking Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight in the video below.