No Rematch: Mayweather Calls Manny a ‘Coward’

A rematch for Manny Pacquiao appears as on-again/off-again as the first fight.

After texting ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith that he would grant the Filipino a rematch, Floyd Mayweather now says he won’t. Pacquiao’s repeated references to a rotator-cuff injury, which he had surgically repaired this week, appears as excuse-making to the American, who emerged victorious on all three scorecards on last Saturday night’s fight.

“Did I text Stephen A. Smith and say I will fight him again?” the mercurial Mayweather told Showtime. “Yeah, but I change my mind. At this particular time, no, because he’s a sore loser and he’s a coward.”

Several hundred million reasons may persuade Mayweather to reconsider.

Early numbers show that Mayweather-Pacquiao, despite its $90 television subscription price, may have more than doubled the previous pay-per view record holder, Oscar De La Hoya-Manny Pacquiao, which did just short of 2.5 million buys at $55. Yahoo Sports reports that satellite subscriptions alone reached 2.25 million buys. Based on past performance, cable buys should put the total number of home subscribers above 5 million.

Money may make Money, whose remaining potential big-dollar bouts include a rematch with Miguel Cotto at 154 or a bout with Brit Amir Kahn, rethink ruling out a rematch.