Mayweather ghosts own Manila press conference

“RWM executives, led by President and CEO Kingson Sian, welcome Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the Maxims Hotel earlier today. #MayweatherAtRWManila #RWManila” (File Photo: Resorts World Manila/Facebook)

The press conference was scheduled for 3pm, while the media held their breath until 11pm, hoping that the pound-for-pound king would announce a rematch of 2015’s “The Fight of the Century” between him and Pacquiao. The establishment itself set up a makeshift boxing ring and basketball court at the Grand Bar just for the event.

A little bit before midnight, Resorts World Manila director for Corporate Communications Joee Guilas broke the news to the waiting members of the media, saying, “We are very sorry to have kept you waiting for so long. But we are sorry we have to tell you that Mr. Floyd Mayweather is no longer coming to the press conference,”  adding, “Just like you, we’re very excited to meet the boxing legend. But unfortunately, we cannot make that happen today. Our apologies. Our apologies. Thank you.”

Mayweather arrived in the country a few days ago via his private jet “Air Mayweather,” then directly went to Boracay Island for two days. Prior to his supposed press conference, he was seen attending an event hosted by Dr. Victoria Belo in Makati at around 3pm, then spotted strolling around Greenbelt a few hours later and closing off his night dining at a restaurant by the Bay instead of directing to Resorts World for the scheduled conference. By the time the announcement was made that he will not be attending, a hotel insider revealed that the boxer was already settled in his suite.

Earlier in the day, popular matchmaker Sean Gibbons told boxing fans not to hope for a Mayweather-Pacquiao boxing encounter again, and that the Filipino athlete will probably face WBA super champion Keith Thurman or 31-year-old Danny Garcia next this coming July.