Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are already at it again—sort of, at least, after the former’s camp countered the latter’s latest pronouncements.
A few days ago, Mayweather spoke about the previously reported MayPac rematch and insisted nothing is set in stone yet, and that it will be an exhibition if and when it happens. Now, the Pacquiao camp has countered, claiming that the fight is as announced earlier: a professional bout to be fought at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao and Mayweather Will Meet in an Official Fight
According to a report from Mike Coppinger of The Ring Magazine, the bout is far from an exhibition as far as the Pacquiao camp is concerned. MP Promotions CEO Jas Mathur, Coppinger said, maintained that both Pacquiao and Mayweather are contractually bound to meet in an official, record-bearing contest.
“Mathur said Manny isn’t interested in an exhibition,” Coppinger shared in a post on X.
That directly contradicts Mayweather’s recent remarks, where the undefeated American suggested the planned clash would merely be an exhibition—meaning it will have no impact on their professional records.
Streaming platform Netflix previously announced that the two boxing icons are set to square off again on September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. The event is positioned as a sequel to their historic 2015 showdown, which shattered pay-per-view and revenue records.
But Mayweather has since cast doubt on multiple details, not just the nature of the fight.
“As of right now, we don’t know exactly where the fight is going to be at,” said Mayweather, who boasts a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts. “The Sphere is one of the places that they’ve talked about, so we don’t know if it’s 100% going to be there.”
Their first meeting in May 2015 ended with Mayweather outpointing Pacquiao in Las Vegas—a result the Filipino legend has long sought to avenge, but only under official conditions.
Two Legends Lining Up Exhibitions
In the lead-up, Mayweather is reportedly lining up two exhibition appearances—one against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, and another versus Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, is also exploring a tune-up bout. However, his previously scheduled exhibition with former welterweight titlist Ruslan Provodnikov—initially set for April 18 in Las Vegas—has reportedly been postponed.
With both camps holding firm to opposing narratives, the blockbuster rematch remains clouded in uncertainty—raising more questions than answers as fight night approaches.
