Floyd Mayweather Jr. announced that negotiations for his rematch with Manny Pacquiao continue, with an official announcement expected within days.
Speaking at a media event for his upcoming June 27 exhibition against Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis, Mayweather expressed confidence in finalizing the bout. “The sport of boxing has truly changed, with new companies, new faces, and Netflix,” he stated. “I truly think we’ll get this done; we’re almost at that finish line to finish the Pacquiao fight. A lot of things have changed in the sport of boxing, and I think within the next 48 hours, the Pacquiao fight should be done.”
Uncertainty on Format and Venue
Mayweather did not specify the fight’s location or whether it would be a sanctioned professional bout or an exhibition. The matchup was first revealed in February as a professional fight set for September 19 at the Sphere venue. However, Mayweather later clarified in March that it would shift to an exhibition format, with the Sphere no longer confirmed.
This change followed promotions by Netflix, which planned to stream the event live, and the Sphere itself.
Reactions from Pacquiao’s Camp
Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, expressed disappointment over the shift. He noted that Mayweather had signed multiple contracts, received advances, and even secured a loan against his fight purse. Mathur indicated potential penalties in the tens of millions if Mayweather withdraws.
Pacquiao himself stated he would only participate if the fight is sanctioned, ruling out an exhibition.
Venue Challenges
The original September 19 date at Sphere is now occupied by the Eagles’ extended residency at the $2.3 billion arena. Alternative locations under discussion include the MGM Grand Garden Arena or T-Mobile Arena, though recent talks have not yielded significant progress, familiar with the matter.
