Abel Sanchez: “A Floyd Mayweather rematch could be even worse for Manny Pacquiao than the first time”

Last month on the day before the big rematch between former IBO middleweight champion Gennady Golovkin and Canelo Alvarez was set to take place, a fighter that is no stranger to stealing headlines found his way into the news as Floyd Mayweather Jr teased a possible rematch fight with rival Manny Pacquaio. While many saw this as a PR move, there seems to be some truth to a rematch possibly being in the works, so much so that the best sports betting sites are putting out odds for the fight.

In part 3 of my “On The Ropes” boxing radio interview with Abel Sanchez, I had a chance to get his views on the news that Mayweather made. Abel shared his thoughts on what a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II fight would mean to the sport right now and shared his views on if it would be bad for boxing. Additionally, Abel Sanchez talked about the chances Pacquaio has to win and gave his prediction for the fight. Here is what Abel Sanchez had to say.

Jenna J: Abel, before Golovkin-Canelo rematch took place, there were some news made when Floyd Mayweather stated that he and Pacquiao were going to have a rematch. Do you think that fight would have any meaning to the sport at this point?

Abel Sanchez: I don’t think it has any significance in the big scheme of things. It would be more of a spectacle and an event where Floyd always wants to grandstand and up somebody by announcing it on the day of the fight. I think that fight came too late and people recognize that it is not going to be any better, it’s going to be worse because they aged a little more even now. If the fans want to buy it, good, if they don’t want to buy it, that’s okay too. I think every fight has its place, but let’s make sure we don’t confuse it with a real fight.

Jenna J: Does a match like Mayweather-Pacquiao II happening — which is purely a money fight — hurt the sport at all?

Abel Sanchez: No, I don’t think it hurts the sport, I think that it’s entertainment, I think that if people look at It for what it is, I think it’s okay. We are in this business, we are entertainers and we need to entertain the fans. If the fans want to pay for something like that, that’s okay. I think that both guys were great fighters at one time, both guys are at the tail end of their careers, but they are both Hall of Famers, they’re two guys that deserve a watch if that’s what you want to pay for.

Jenna J: Abel in your honest opinion, do you see any way that Manny Pacquiao can actually win a rematch with Floyd Mayweather?

Abel Sanchez: No, it could be even worse than the first time. I think Floyd is the type of fighter that now that he has twelve rounds under his belt against this man, he knows exactly what he needs to do, he’s smart enough to have figured it out just like he did against Maidana. It would be the same type of fight but it will be a little easier for Floyd.

Jenna J: Abel, you work with a great stable of fighters and a lot of fighters that are just starting to grab the fans attention, can you let the people out there know about some of the fights you have coming up?

Abel Sanchez: Yes, on October 20th we have Arsen Goulamirian defending his WBA title in France against Mark Flanagan, on the 16th of November we have Alex Saucedo fighting for the WBO title against Maurice Hooker, a fight that will be in Oklahoma City on ESPN 2.

I also have in November Michel Soro fighting in Paris for the WBA junior middleweight title, it would be a rematch against Brian Carlos Castano from Argentina. So we have a lot of young guys coming up and some older guys fighting or defending for world titles.