HOLLYWOOD—Manny Pacquiao shook hands with Floyd Mayweather Jr. as he walked past his seat at Staples Center during Monday night’s NBA game between the Warriors and the Lakers.
That latest stroke of serendipity stirred speculations of a sequel of the duel between the two biggest draws in boxing in 2015, which reportedly earned $600 million.
Talks for that fight also began when both fighters ran into each other in an NBA game.
This time, though, Pacquiao and Mayweather did not engage in small talk, but that hasn’t stop fans from counting sightings of the two in the same venue, which now stands at four.
It started in September in Japan when the American broached the idea of a rematch while they attended a music festival.
After Japan, the two superstars chanced upon each other in an NBA Heritage Game a week before Pacquiao handily defended his WBA welterweight crown against Adrien Broner.
Mayweather, in his capacity as promoter of the Pacquiao-Broner, was also present during fight night and even had a short chat with the Filipino ring icon.
Pacquiao, however, said their meetings were all coincidental.
But his chief trainer, Buboy Fernandez, admitted that they want to have another go at Mayweather, if only for Pacquiao to have a do-over of his underwhelming performance in 2015.
The eight-division champion claimed he was nursing an injured shoulder in losing to Mayweather via unanimous decision.
“We are not here in America to start a career,” said Fernandez in Filipino. “We have proven ourselves.”
Fernandez also frowned at the list of possible Pacquiao foes who he felt are “too young, too big and too hungry.”
Among the opponents being lined up for Pacquiao include Australian Jeff Horn, who defeated him in 2017 in Brisbane, Premier Boxing Champion mainstay Danny Garcia, and Keith Thurman, the WBA “super” welterweight champ.
Reports said Pacquiao may also challenge the winner between Errol Spence and Mikey Garcia, two of the young turks in the division who will clash on March 16, or whoever wins in Terrence Crawford-Amir Khan battle on April 20.
“We will fight these big guys and if we beat them what do we gain?” said Fernandez. “But if they beat us, we lose more.”
Every talk about the next fight, though, will always be in the shadow of a rematch with Mayweather. But neither Pacquiao nor his undefeated American rival has confirmed there are serious talks of a rematch. Mayweather didn’t even react when Pacquiao on Saturday night called him out.
“I have the title, I’m still active. If he wants to come out of retirement, announce it and challenge me,” said Pacquiao.
Mayweather Promotions’ Leonard Ellerbe said Mayweather is content living in retirement.