Manny Pacquiao has told Floyd Mayweather he is open to a rematch if the American is prepared to come out of retirement to challenge him.
Pacquiao, 40, retained his WBA world welterweight title with a unanimous points victory over American Adrien Broner in Las Vegas and while he was non-committal over what may lie ahead, he insisted he is open to the possibility of gaining revenge over 41-year-old Mayweather for his 2015 defeat.
Asked repeatedly about a rematch at his post-fight press conference, he said: “My message is I’m still active and if he goes back to the ring and wants to challenge me, I’m a champion. Get back to the ring and we will fight again if he wants.
“If he wants to come out of retirement, then announce it and challenge me. I’m a champion and I don’t pick any opponent.
“I’m just waiting to see who will challenge me, who will challenge [for] my belt.”
Five-weight world champion Mayweather was among the crowd at the MGM Grand Garden Arena to see Pacquiao defeat an opponent 11 years his junior 117-111, 116-112, 116-112 after 12 rounds in his 70th fight.
Broner later insisted he had won, but was refusing to be bowed by the result.
He said: “As you can see, I’m wearing these glasses for fashion, I haven’t got a mark on me. It was a hell of a fight. I give props to Manny Pacquiao. I’m not going to come up here and go crazy, I don’t have to. My performance tonight talked for me.
“I came and I gave them what they weren’t looking for. If you ask me, I feel like I won the fight, but I’m not about to sit here with a sad face. I’m all right, I’m all right and I will be back and I will be champion again.”
Asked about Broner’s verdict, Pacquiao said: “We cannot blame him. I’m sure he will review the fight and think about it.
“Adrien Broner is a good boxer. He’s fast, he moves fast — he’s a former champion, so he’s the kind of fighter that you cannot underestimate, you cannot take him lightly.
“He gave me a hard time in this fight.”
However, Broner was adamant that he should have got the nod.
He said: “Hell yeah, I believe I won the fight. When you believe that you want cheese on that burger, you know what you’re looking for. Hell yeah, I feel like I won. I really did believe that I won the fight.”
