With talks of December 8th being a likely date for a rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao and that the reality that it’s likely to happen starting to dawn on the boxing world, is this a shrewd piece of business by Manny?

The game, call it what you will, life, work, business, whatever.

You either play it or it plays you, in the end.

As a rather clever writer and insightful chap from England called Guy Richie once said:

“I don’t agree with the saying ‘Don’t hate the player hate the game’. Tough. Your’e in the game mate, whether you like it or not. So you better bloody play it.”

Manny Pacquiao is back in the boxing game as at least a legitimate contender in the welterweight division at the moment after his first stoppage win over Lucas Matthysse earlier this summer in Malaysia.

It established himself at 147lbs again and gave him a belt.

Mayweather, on the other hand, last boxed over a year ago against a novice boxer in Conor McGregor.

Although he carried McGregor in the fight, he still legitimately lost rounds and got hit plenty of times by a guy who had not previously ever even had a single professional boxing match.

His legs were clearly old.

Anyone in boxing will tell you Mayweather’s legs are shot but he could get away with his lack of mobility against someone like McGregor.

Manny was bouncing around in his last fight and although not the Pacquiao of old, still looked very impressive.

By all accounts Mayweather barely trained for the McGregor fight.

How much motivation does he really have left to get up for a proper training camp? He’s no fool and knows he’ll have to give Pacquiao the appropriate respect in his preparation.

Form-wise and physically, December could actually be a good time to catch Mayweather.

In theory.