Former two-weight world champion and top trainer Buddy McGirt has suggested that one man, between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, is likely to enter their showdown with one clear advantage.
The two pound-for-pound legends are reportedly set to square off in Las Vegas, colliding in a professional rematch that is now slated for September 26.
Originally, it was proposed that they would lock horns at the Sphere, Las Vegas, on September 19, only for handlers of the Netflix event to go with a different date and venue.
But despite the uncertainty, it does appear that both fighters have agreed to collide in a fully-sanctioned bout, with Mayweather graciously putting his 50-0 record on the line.
The 49-year-old has not fought professionally since his 10th-round finish over Conor McGregor in 2017, which arrived just over two years after he unanimously outpointed ‘Pac Man’
Conversely, Pacquiao has been involved in eight professional contests since their first encounter, most recently boxing to a 12-round draw against then-WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios last July.
Because of this greater activity in recent years, McGirt has told ESNEWS that he favours the 47-year-old Filipino, even if neither fighter can realistically claim to be the poster boy of activity.
“I’m [going to] go with Pacquiao for the simple fact that Floyd hasn’t fought – like [in] a fight-fight – for how long?
“These exhibition fights, you can’t really count them. Then again, I’m gonna go with Pacquiao but I wouldn’t be surprised if Floyd pulls it off.”
While Pacquiao has fought more recently than Mayweather, his draw with Barrios ended a near four-year layoff that followed his unanimous decision defeat to Yordenis Ugas.