Heavyweight champion questions why two legends nearing 50 are stepping back into the ring
Tyson Fury does not believe Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao should still be stepping through the ropes at their age. The heavyweight champion says the planned rematch looks driven by money rather than competition.
The long-awaited rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao is scheduled for September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. The announcement surprised much of the sport, bringing two of the most recognizable fighters of the last two decades back into the ring.
Their first fight took place in May 2015, when Mayweather secured a unanimous decision victory in one of the most financially successful events in boxing history. Mayweather later retired from professional competition in 2017.
Pacquiao, now 47, was last seen in action in July when he fought WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a majority decision draw in a world title bout.
Fury, a two-time heavyweight champion, shared his thoughts on the matchup while speaking with Gareth A Davies, and he questioned the motivation behind the fight.
“If you look at Pacquiao and Mayweather, they were the top boys at boxing in the early 2000s. They were the kingpins and then they had to move over and we took over [as] the heavyweights.
“Me and Wilder carried it for a long time and Joshua as well. It keeps changing. You can’t relive your youth. Grandfather time takes over.
“These guys are nearly 50-years-old. Is it for the right reasons? Probably not. What I’m hearing is it’s all financial reasons. People can pretend they’re rich. If you’re that rich and that secure, you wouldn’t want to be fighting at 50-years-old. That’s a fact.”
Mayweather will be 49 when the fight takes place, while Pacquiao will be 47.
The rematch brings together two fighters whose careers defined the sport during the early 2000s and mid-2010s.
Fury himself returns to action much sooner. The British heavyweight is scheduled to face Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, marking his first appearance since December 2024.