Dogli Wilberforce
The planned rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. has become the subject of a dispute after conflicting statements about the nature of the bout. The fight was announced earlier in 2026 for September 19 in Las Vegas and was presented as a professional contest.
However, recent comments from Mayweather have created uncertainty about whether the event will move forward as planned. Pacquiao’s promotional team has responded by pointing to signed agreements that define the fight as a professional match.
The situation has placed both camps at odds, with each side maintaining a different position. As preparations continue, the status of the bout remains unclear, and further developments are expected in the coming weeks.
Manny Pacquiao Promoter Outlines Contract Details and Breach Claim
Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, said in an interview with ESPN that the agreements between the two fighters clearly define a professional fight. “As of right now, the fight is still on. There is no termination of any sort, and he has signed for a professional fight.”
He explained that multiple agreements were signed over time. “Floyd Mayweather signed not one, not two, but three different agreements on three different dates with two different parties that ultimately got intertwined in the month of January. First one was on 24 October, the second one was on 6 November, the third one was on 14 December.”
Mathur said payments were made after each agreement. “He received money for all three agreements when he signed them. Not only that, but he’s also taken out an advance on his purse for his fight against Pacquiao.”
He also pointed to documentation supporting the claims. “We have the DocuSign proofs as well as wet signatures with his device ID, with his IP address, with everything there.”
Mathur added that Mayweather’s recent comments put him in breach. “He’s been in a breach since the day he went out and said what he said.”
Floyd Mayweather Describes the Fight as an Exhibition
Mayweather gave a different account during an interview. “We don’t know the location of the fight. The Sphere is one of the places that they talked about. And this is not actually a fight. It’s an exhibition.”
His comments raised questions about whether the bout will be a sanctioned contest. The event had been linked to The Sphere in Las Vegas, though Mayweather said the venue is not confirmed.
Mathur responded directly to those remarks, saying the agreements do not include terms for an exhibition. He also said no issues had been raised earlier in the process.
“No one in these last three months has brought up anything related to the venue or related to the fight not being a professional fight.”
Fight Status Remains Unresolved Ahead of the September Date
The disagreement has left the fight’s status uncertain. The bout remains scheduled for September 19, but its format has not been confirmed by both sides.
Mathur also issued a direct response regarding Mayweather’s stance. “If he does not want to put his record on the line in a professional boxing match, he should have never executed any of these agreements.”
The two fighters last met in 2015, when Mayweather won by unanimous decision. That fight drew global attention and set pay-per-view records.
At this stage, both camps continue to hold their positions. The promoter maintains that signed agreements require a professional fight, while Mayweather has publicly described it as an exhibition. Further updates are expected as discussions continue ahead of the scheduled date.
