Proposed Mayweather Pacquiao Saudi Arabia rematch in jeopardy?

A theoretical 2020 rematch between future Hall of Famers, unbeaten former World Welterweight Champion Floyd Mayweather and current WBA 147 lb. champ, Manny Pacquiao, has not been agreed to or announced.

However, a report Tuesday says that if the fight is going to take place, that the supposed site of Saudi Arabia may very well be off the table.

An internet report from writer Phil Jay of  “World Boxing News” states that officials and investors in the Middle East are currently hesitant for a follow-up massive fight to December’s Anthony Joshua-Andy Ruiz Heavyweight title rematch, because of current world affairs and conflict with the United States and Iran:

Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2 Saudi Arabia bid hampered by US-Iran troubles https://t.co/IUj7hsczmN #MayPac2

— ????? ?????? ???? (@WorldBoxingNews) January 8, 2020

Jay did not cite any sources or even have any on the record quotes anonymously. However, he went on to detail that the United States drone attack that killed Iranian military leader Qassem Soleimani last week may very well end any hope that a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch, 5 years in the making, would take place in Saudi Arabia.

On Tuesday, the Iranians began to launch short-ranged missiles at different Iraqi military bases housing United States troops. This has many in the U.S. and  around the globe concerned with whether things will escalate between the United States and Iran?

And as Jay correctly theorized, Saudi Arabia could very well be a target of the Iranians, due to the United States’ massive interest in the Saudi’s oil.

Back to the less important but still interesting Mayweather comeback, as we have written late last year, he’s only announced that he’s fighting again, at some point this calendar year, but not against whom?

Mayweather, 50-0, was last in a boxing ring in August of 2017, when he scored a 10th round TKO over Champion UFC fighter, Connor McGregor. “Money May’s” last bout against a boxer was two years earlier, when he decisioned Andre Berto in September or 2015. That fight was four months after he defeated Pacquiao. Mayweather turns 43 years old next month.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao, 62-7-2, has not fought since he defeated unbeaten WBA champ Keith Thurman in a tremendous performance with a 12-round decision in Las Vegas last July. Pacquiao turned 41 in December.

It is believed that Pacquiao may be fighting PBC contender, Danny Garcia later this summer. Garcia is slated to headline for PBC in a fight on Showtime with Ivan Redkach later this month in Brooklyn, NY.

There is also a possibility that Pacquiao may fight unified Welterweight Champion Errol Spence later in 2020, as well. Spence is currently recovering from a horrific one car crash that has sidelined him for three months. He has only begun to do light boxing training in December and early January. And, it’s unclear whom Spence will fight if/when he returns?

Back to the theorized Mayweather-Pacuiao second fight. Mayweather won easily and the fight had an all time record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys. And, a rematch stands to make hundreds of millions of dollars for all involved.

Jay wrote that over $100 million would be potentially be guaranteed to Mayweather, and Pacquiao would probably be guaranteed at least half of that.

Again, all of this supposes that Mayweather and Pacquiao are going to fight in the first place.

Further, it’s also likely that if Saudi Arabia isn’t a location, then it’s highly possible that fight will be held in Las Vegas. That where their first bout in May of 2015.

Both Fighters have frequently fought Mega-fights in the Vegas desert over the last 10 years.

Now, we wait to see particularly what Pacquiao wants to do next? This as “Pac man” is the fighter with a title, and who has been more active and seems to have tangible options from Premier Boxing Champions in front of him besides rematching Mayweather.