Pacquiao ‘pockets’ much-awaited rematch

The fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather was one of the most hyped sporting events of 2015 and recent rumours of a rematch have got boxing fans salivating at the thought.

Now, if the Instagram of Filipino fighter Pacquiao is anything to go by, those rumours could be edging closer to reality.

Pacquiao, who was well beaten by Mayweather in 2015 while suffering a shoulder injury, posted a picture of himself wearing a special new jacket – which a picture of himself fighting the American sewn into the lining.

The snap, showing Pacquiao on the inside of the jacket’s right breast sparring with Mayweather who is on the left, gained more than 52,000 likes since being posted on Monday morning.

Pacquiao has cryptically captioned the post ‘Like my jacket?’ – referencing the desire of boxing fans to see the two best welterweight fighters in the world face off again.

The post follows on from Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter for Top Rank, saying a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch has a ‘75 per cent’ chance of happening.

Arum told ESPN: ‘‘Do I know it’s gonna happen? No. Do I know if Floyd wants the fight? No.

‘‘I know nothing more than the public knows at this point and what I observed.’’

Mayweather had retired after the May 2015 victory with a 49-0 winning record, but the 39-year-old was at ringside when Pacquiao claimed the WBO belt against Jessie Vargas on November 5.