Manny Pacquiao Says Floyd Mayweather Rematch To Be Finalized This Week

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao look set to be meet in another lucrative boxing match. In this picture, Mayweather hugs Pacquiao after defeating Pacquiao in their welterweight unification bout at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, May 2, 2015. JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP/Getty Images

The Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch may actually become a reality as the latter expects the fight to be finalized this week.

On the weekend of the highly-anticipated Canelo Alvarez vs. Gennady Golovkin rematch, Mayweather posted a video on Instagram of himself meeting Pacquiao in Japan with a caption stating he was coming out of retirement again.

"I'm coming back to fight Manny Pacquiao this year," Mayweather wrote on Instagram. "Another 9 figure pay day on the way."

Pacquiao would then respond on Twitter to add more fuel to the fire.

In the video, Mayweather can be heard telling the eight-division champion: "I’m coming back in December. I’m taking your belt. I’ll beat you like I did before and I don’t want to hear that your shoulder hurts."

While most thought this was an attention grab, especially on the part of Mayweather, it looks like the sequel will actually happen as, according to Rappler's Camille Elemia, Pacquiao revealed both camps are in the process of finalizing the fight this week.

Sen Manny Pacquiao says Pacquiao-Mayweather camps to finalize their fight this week @rapplerdotcom
— Camille Elemia (@CamilleElemia) September 17, 2018

Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine later reported contracts will be out this week and that the target date for a bout is Dec. 1 or Dec. 8, ideally in Las Vegas.

Breaking: Talks for #MayweatherPacquiao2 are in the advanced stages and it’s expected there will be contracts out this week, according to industry sources. Once finalized, the fight will likely land in Las Vegas and two target dates are Dec. 1 and Dec. 8
— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) September 17, 2018

The first fight of course, took place in May 2015 and while it was a lucrative success with 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and over $410 million in revenue generated, it was ultimately a dull contest that soured both hardcore boxing fans and casuals with Mayweather winning a unanimous decision.

A rematch is unlikely to garner as much interest but it could still yet be lucrative. Since defeating Pacquiao, Mayweather would defeat Andre Berto later that year before calling time on his career.

The 41-year-old would come out of retirement for the second time to take on Conor McGregor in a lucrative boxing match last year, winning the contest via TKO to take his record to an unprecedented 50-0. He was notably adamant it was his last-ever fight following the victory.

As for Pacquiao, he would go on to win the World Boxing Organization welterweight title before losing it in a controversial unanimous decision loss to Jeff Horn last year.

"Pacman" was able to bounce back by winning the World Boxing Association (Regular) welterweight title against Lucas Matthysse in July and could defend it against Mayweather in a potential December rematch.

Below are some of the betting odds related to the rematch as per Bet DSI:

Will the rematch take place before Dec. 31, 2018?