This follows claims by Ugandan veteran journalist and renowned political commentator, Andrew Mwenda that Mayweather’s manager confirmed an upcoming fight between the renowned boxers in Kigali in November 2024.

Mwenda made the comments during a recent interview with Sanny Ntayombya on his famous podcast- The Long Form.

In an exclusive interview with IGIHE on Friday, August 16, 2024, Kalisa pointed out that the managements of the two boxers were yet to formally notify the federation of their plans but affirmed that the country has the necessary infrastructure to host the high-profile bout or even bigger tournaments.

“With the infrastructure we have in place, we are prepared to host an event of this magnitude,” Kalisa remarked, as he promised to release more details later.

He highlighted some of the fights the country has hosted before, including the Genocide Memorial Tournament (GMT) held in June. Boxers from various regional countries competed for glory at the tournament held at Kigali Universe.

"So far, we’ve had the Eastern Africa Police Chiefs Cooperation Organization (EAPCCO) Games, which gave us a good experience and with the available infrastructure, we are definitely ready," he affirmed.

The GMT Tournament is an annual boxing event organized to honour the victims of the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. This year’s tournament featured professionals and amateur boxers from Rwanda, Ethiopia, and South Sudan.

Mwenda, who shares a fond relationship with Rwanda’s top leadership, had earlier claimed that he became aware of Mayweather’s plans because he is "hooked into the international communication system."

The Ugandan scribe also disclosed that Mayweather plans to visit Rwanda in September to convey his congratulations to the Head of State upon his re-election. Thereafter, preparations for the fight will commence.

"They [Mayweather and Pacquiao] want to host their match here in Kigali," Mwenda stated, adding that South African-born American billionaire Elon Musk also plans to visit Rwanda in October, drawn by President Kagame’s transformative leadership.

"Everyone is attracted to Rwanda because President Kagame is a shining example of enlightened leadership in Africa. He has demonstrated to the world an incredible lesson in achieving high levels of development. This man has lifted Rwanda from obscurity and placed it not just on the African map but on the world map,” he emphasized.

If Mwenda’s words come to pass, then the November bout will be a highly anticipated rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao, following their clash on May 2, 2015. Often referred to as "The Fight of the Century," the fight took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The fight had been discussed for years, with fans and pundits eagerly awaiting a showdown between the two greatest boxers of their generation. Negotiations were complicated, with disagreements over money, drug testing, and other factors delaying the match for several years.

Mayweather won the fight against Pacquiao by unanimous decision, with all three judges ruling in his favour. He pocketed a whopping $180 million from the fight which generated more than $600 million.

In 2017, about two years after their fight, Mayweather announced his retirement from professional boxing following his victory over Conor McGregor. He retired with an undefeated record and 15 major world championships across weight classes from super featherweight to light middleweight.

Pacquiao continued his career in the welterweight division before announcing his retirement in 2021. Although there were several hints from both boxers about a potential rematch, it never materialized.

Despite their retirement from professional boxing, the two boxers could still make a comeback for exhibition matches, which are more about entertainment than official records.

Rwanda Boxing Federation President Vick Kalisa says the country is ready to host a high-profile boxing fight between Floyd Mayweather and his arch-rival, Manny Pacquiao.