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Exclusive: ‘Mayweather v Pacquiao a different battle now’

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Sean Gibbons continues his exclusive interview with World Boxing News by further addressing the rematch rumors between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.

With 4.6m PPV buys in the US for their โ€˜Fight of the Centuryโ€™ in 2015, a second bout would seem sure to break the two million barrier.

Since Pacquiao joined PBC and Al Haymon, speculation has mounted on the pair reigniting their feud โ€“ something Mayweather has recently laughed off.

Gibbons, the President of MP Promotions, cast his thoughts on whether the showdown would succeed.

โ€œNo matter when that fight was made, it will always be difficult because of Floydโ€™s style. Thatโ€™s what is great about it,” Gibbons told World Boxing News in an exclusive interview.

“Both of them are adding a couple of extra years, which may bring a different stylistic battle to the fight.

โ€œThe winner, I hope, would be the fans. I hope it will be more entertaining and Manny will come out on top.โ€

Addressing a prediction from WBN that the fight would make at least 2m in sales, Gibbons stated: โ€œI think it would do very well. Thatโ€™s all I will say.

“If there werenโ€™t an interest in the fight, you wouldnโ€™t discuss it. It wouldnโ€™t be all over social media.

“Mayweather wouldnโ€™t be out there talking about โ€˜my legacy is better. I have this, I have that, Mannyโ€™s using my name.โ€™

โ€œWe donโ€™t use Floydโ€™s name; weโ€™re not chasing Mayweather. If the opportunity presents itself, itโ€™d be great. Itโ€™d be fun. Itโ€™s just another fight thatโ€™s out there for him.โ€

Speaking about WBNโ€™s current pound-for-pound rankings, where Pacquiao is third on the list and number one in the divisional welterweight ratings due to his many achievements, he added: โ€œNumber one welterweight in the world? I think so, I agree with that.

“You could put all the (welterweight) names into the hat: Spence, Crawford, and the Senator. It’s a toss it up. Depending on what happens on any given night, any guy can beat any guy.

โ€œBut the Senator absolutely earned the right after beating Keith Thurman because people donโ€™t realize that man can fight. He can box, heโ€™s athletic, and he can punch.

“Thurman beat Danny Garcia. He defeated Shawn Porter. So that win (for Pacquiao), Iโ€™m telling you, Iโ€™m still ranking that up as one of the Senatorโ€™s best wins ever because of the difference in skill and age. Plus, who Thurman had fought and beat.

“At this moment, heโ€™s right up there in the top three (with Spence and Crawford),” concluded Gibbons.

Read all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay. Learn more about the author, experienced boxing writer, and World Boxing News Editor since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.