CHICAGO — After the euphoria of it’s initial announcement last September 15, the talks about Mayweather versus Pacquiao 2 quickly lay dying on the corner of hype and false promise.

But, alas, the murmurs are back. Getting louder with every whispered rumor.

Good things come to those who wait, it was once said. And that’s exactly what boxing fans need to do before seeing MayPac 2 — wait.

Apparently, Mayweather can’t do a December dance owing to a “huge event” he is planning in Tokyo, Japan. Pacquiao, on the other hand, can use a tune-up after last July’s easy outing, a Malaysia fight in which Lucas Mathhysse turned out to be a worthless participant.

While the reception of the proposed Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch has been tepid in some parts, two of the NBA’s finest players. a pair who happen to be huge boxing nuts, can’t wait to see the second installment of Episode One, which was kind of a letdown last May 2015.

Newly-minted Los Angeles Laker Lance Stephenson, a rough and tough guard who hasn’t seen a fight he didn’t like, recently told SPIN.ph contributor Sean Yu: “Please tell Manny to knock out Floyd.”

Consider that the unofficial first punch thrown.

Last night in Los Angeles, where the Minnesota Timberwolves lost to the Clippers in a 128-101 sleeper, former NBA Rookie of the Year and MVP Derrick Rose told PhilBoxing.com: “That will be a great one and I’m looking forward to it.”

Amen.

Homer D. Sayson is a veteran journalist with a rich experience in print, broadcast and television media. He is currently a columnist and the U.S. editor of SPIN.ph. He is also a columnist and NBA page editor at PhilBoxing.com.

Above photo shows the author with NBA superstar Derrick Rose receiving a Manny Pacquiao-signed boxing trunks while Laker guard Lance Stephenson makes reporter Sean Yu know which side of the fence he is on for May-Pac 2.