FILE – US boxing legend Floyd Mayweather Jr gestures during his press conference after winning the exhibition fight against Kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa of Japan at Saitama Super Arena in Saitama on December 31, 2018. (Photo by Toshifumi KITAMURA / AFP)
MANILA, Philippines–Floyd Mayweather stood up his own press conference Tuesday night after having the media people wait for eight hours.
Resorts World director for corporate communication Joee Guilas said at past 11 p.m., that the undefeated boxing great “is no longer coming to the press conference” that was originally set for 3 p.m. that same afternoon.
That despite the fact that hotel officials confirmed that Mayweather is already in his room by the time the announcement was made.
TV crews, newspaper and online media waited, holding out for an announcement he will finally fight Manny Pacquiao once again at the posh hotels’ newest bar Grand Bar lounge.
But they all waited in vain, practically putting in question a return to the ring against the Philippines’ pride and fellow boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
A basketball court was even put up, fanning speculation he will have a shoot-around with Pacquiao — an avid basketball player himself —in what could be another gimmick for the much-anticipated rematch of their 2015 megabuck fight.
Mayweather flew in earlier Sunday via private jet and spent time in Boracay, playing beach volleyball and basketball at the world renowned beach resort.
He arrived back in Manila Tuesday afternoonin time for the presser arranged for him.
In the afternoon, Mayweather underwent “Thermage Facial” treatment at Belo Clinics in Makati at round 3 p.m. Then he headed to the city’s finest malls for shopping until 8 p.m.
Then later he was spotted having dinner at Mall of Asia until past 10 p.m.
It was the American boxing great second visit to the Philippines. He visited last May to go to El Nido in Palawan.
His presence in the country triggered yet another wave of talk that he is fighting Pacquiao once again, four years after their megabuck fight that set a record in all of boxing in terms of box-office returns which reportedly reached $600 million.
However, Sean Gibbons, a popular matchmaker who lately serves as associate to Pacquiao in matters of boxing, said it boils down to either WBA super champion Keith Thurman or former champ Danny Garcia.
Gibbons said they are waiting for the April 20 fight between Garcia and Adrian Granados in Carson, California.
Known for his aggressive style, the 31-year-old Garcia (34-2-0 with 20 knockouts) is former two-division champ who lost his title to Thurman two years ago.
Thurman is 30 years old and holds a 29-0-1 22 KOs statistics. Ring Magazine reported that he will face Pacquiao either on July 13or 20 at a still unspecified venue.
Pacquiao, who holds the WBA regular belt, has already stated he will fight in July when he is free from his Senate duties.