Pacquiao reiterates rematch call vs Mayweather

GENERAL SANTOS CITY--If the opportunity comes, boxing champion Manny Pacquiao said he will not think twice to have a rematch with undefeated American prizefighter Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao reiterated his desire on Tuesday to have another fight with the now retired Mayweather, who defeated him via unanimous decision in their lone faceoff in 2015.

He initially called out Mayweather to “do a second one” with him after arriving here from Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia late Monday afternoon.

The “fighting senator” wrested the World Boxing Association “regular” welterweight title from Argentinian Lucas Matthysse in an epic seventh round knockout last Sunday.

“That depends. Let’s see if he decides to return to boxing. If that happens, it means he’s coming back for me,” he told reporters at his mansion in Barangay Lagao here.

Pacquiao said he wants to do “two to three more fights” before finally hanging up his gloves and just focus on his political career.

Now 39 years-old, he acknowledged that age will finally slow him down but added that this was not the case so far, stressing his “passion for boxing” has not wavered.

Presidential son Sebastian “Baste” Duterte, who visited Pacquiao on Tuesday, said the latter has “a lot left” in the tank to continue his boxing career.

He congratulated the senator for knocking out Matthysse “as what we’ve been always rooting.”

“Si Mayweather dapat tumbahin niya. Kailangan niyang tumbahin yun (He should knock out Mayweather. He needs to knock him down),” the younger Duterte said.

Senator Nancy Binay, who also visited Pacquiao, said the latter’s latest feat is a huge victory for the Filipino people.

“The Senate is honored with his accomplishment,” she said.

South Cotabato second district representative and deputy House Speaker Ferdinand Hernandez said Pacquiao made the country “really proud” with his sensational win.

“It was huge for everyone to witness another knockout performance from him,” he added. (PNA)