The long-awaited rematch between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao is once again shrouded in uncertainty. What seemed to be a confirmed fight for September is now shrouded in conflicting versions.
During a meeting with fans in Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather surprised by saying that the fight would not be a professional fight.
This is not actually a fight, it’s an exhibition
The undefeated champion also left in the air the venue of the event, mentioning that it is not yet confirmed if it will be held at The Sphere, one of the most innovative venues in the world.
Mayweather sows doubts about whether it is an exhibition fight or not
In addition, he explained that his current intention is to focus on shows rather than official fights:
All we want to do is get in the ring, entertain the crowd and put on a good show
If confirmed as an exhibition, Mayweather would not put his historic 50-0 undefeated record at risk, which would diminish the competitive appeal of the fight for many fans.
Pacquiao’s team denies the version
However, the Filipino’s stance is completely different. From his entourage, headed by his promoter, it has been made clear that Manny Pacquiao will only accept an official fight.
MP Promotions CEO Jas Mathur confirmed that there is a contract for a professional fight, which directly contradicts what Mayweather said.
This difference in versions has caused confusion, as the event was announced as one of the most important on the boxing calendar in 2026.
Pacquiao wants a real rematch
Pacquiao himself has made his sporting motivation clear in recent weeks:
I want Floyd to live with the only defeat on his professional record and always remember who inflicted it
His words reflect that the Filipino is looking for a legitimate rematch, with real implications in boxing history.
The first fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao in 2015 was one of the most watched events in sporting history. Therefore, any rematch announcement generates global expectations.
However, the current outlook is uncertain. While Mayweather talks about exhibitions, including possible fights with figures such as Mike Tyson, Pacquiao‘s team insists on maintaining the competitive nature of the fight.
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