Manny Pacquiao Leaves Door Open to Floyd Mayweather Rematch

Manny Pacquiao has hinted he would be open to a rematch with Floyd Mayweather but maintained he still intends to retire from boxing after his April 9 clash with Timothy Bradley.

The 37-year-old confirmed in January that the Las Vegas clash—his third against Bradley—would be his last as he intends to focus on his political career in the Philippines, per Sky Sports' Peter Gilbert.

However, when asked whether he could be tempted into a comeback if the possibility arose of a rematch with Mayweather, Pacquiao did not rule it out, per AFP (via South African outlet eNCA):

"

It's hard to say right now. I made my decision already that after this fight I [will] retire. But I am not saying that, you know, boxing is closed to me. You never know.

I don't feel different compared [with] when I was 27, 25. I am still the same because I discipline myself. Even if I don't have a fight and I am not in training, I always exercise every day.

"

Pacquiao and Mayweather finally met last May after years of waiting and the Filipino eventually lost by unanimous decision in an underwhelming clash. 

The American went on to fight one more time, against Andre Berto last September, before retiring with an immaculate 49-0 professional record.

The Bradley bout will be Pacquiao's first since his defeat to Mayweather as he has been recovering from a shoulder injury he partially blamed for his loss to Money.

Choosing Bradley as his potential final opponent has been met largely with indifference by boxing fans, with BoxNation's Twitter poll indicating a clash with Amir Khan would have been preferred:

Pac-Man has already fought Bradley twice, the first of which ended in a controversial split-decision win for the American in 2012 before Pacquiao put things right in 2014—see highlights below:

The April 9 clash should be an entertaining fight, and it is a much-anticipated occasion given it could be the eight-division champion's last outing in the ring.

But it is not a fight to get the blood pumping.

Neither, though, would a rematch against Mayweather given how disappointing it was when they finally met last year. 

And in all likelihood, especially given Mayweather's recent comments, which indicated he is not considering coming out of retirement, a second fight between the two generation-defining boxers will never happen.