Manny Pacquiao Declares Floyd Mayweather Rematch is Professional Bout as Contract Dispute Erupts Over Las Vegas Event

Manny Pacquiao insists the September rematch with Floyd Mayweather is a professional fight, contradicting Mayweather's claims that the bout is an exhibition.

By: AXL Media

Published: Apr 4, 2026, 3:14 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from CNA

Contractual Disagreement Over Fight Status

The long awaited return of boxing’s most famous rivals has been thrown into a state of promotional confusion following Manny Pacquiao’s recent statements to local media. While Floyd Mayweather recently suggested that the encounter would be a non-scored exhibition, the 47 year old Filipino legend countered by asserting that the legal documents tell a different story. According to Pacquiao, he would not have agreed to step back into the ring with his former nemesis for anything less than a competitive, professional match. This disagreement over the fundamental nature of the bout highlights the high stakes and intense personal rivalry that remains between the two aging icons.

Conflicting Accounts of Venue and Format

The dispute intensified after Mayweather informed Vegas Sports Today that a specific venue had yet to be finalized, despite previous reports linking the event to the Sphere in Las Vegas. Pacquiao and his promotional team have maintained that the Sphere was the agreed-upon location for a September showdown that would reach a worldwide audience via Netflix. The 49 year old Mayweather, who retired with a flawless 50-0 record, has frequently participated in exhibition matches since his professional departure, but Pacquiao’s camp insists this particular agreement was structured as a legitimate addition to their professional records.

Promotional Leadership Backs Pacquiao Claims

Jas Mathur, the CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, has stepped forward to validate the Filipino fighter’s version of the contractual arrangements. In an interview with ESPN, Mathur emphasized that the status of the event as a professional fight was never a point of contention during three months of negotiations. According to Mathur, Mayweather’s team has been in possession of all legal documents and that the American fighter signed off on the terms personally. The promotion insists that no discussions regarding an exhibition format ever took place during the lead up to the official announcement.