Showtime Exec: Floyd Mayweather 'Deadly Serious' About Manny Pacquiao Fight

Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s desire for a rematch against Manny Pacquiao is not just talk.

Stephen Espinoza, the president of sports and event programming for Showtime Sports, told TMZ that Mayweather is "deadly serious" about the potential prizefight.

"Having spoken to Floyd, I know he's deadly serious about it. He's very, very serious about wanting the fight," Espinoza said.

Mayweather called Pacquiao out for a rematch last month. He's said he has plans for a tuneup fight in Japan before a match with Pacquiao, but there has been no official announcement or opponent selected.

"Before the Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch, I will be back in Tokyo for a huge boxing event. Stay tuned," Mayweather told TMZ Sports.

Mayweather, 41, retired in 2015 before returning for a onetime megafight with Conor McGregor last August. He won the bout via TKO in the 10th round, giving him a 50-0 record all time. The pay-per-view had the second-highest buy rate for a boxing match ever, behind only the first Mayweather-Pacquiao event.

Mayweather beat Pacquiao via unanimous decision in May 2015. It was the most anticipated bout in recent boxing history, a years-in-the-making showdown of the two greatest boxers of their generation. Mayweather dominated the entire way, with Pacquiao looking years past his prime.

Pacquiao has gone 3-1 since losing to Mayweather. His only loss was a controversial defeat to Jeff Horn, with many experts believing Pacquiao was robbed.

Mayweather and Pacquiao confronted one another in a club last month, seemingly in promotion for the fight. Pacquiao began calling out his nemesis earlier this summer hoping for a rematch.