Manny Pacquiao seems to believe Floyd Mayweather’s insistence that their September match-up is an exhibition, rather than a real fight, is little more than shenanigans.
According to a statement Netflix, the broadcast partner for the event, the bout would take place at The Sphere in Las Vegas and, as it was a fully sanctioned fist-fight, it would see the American put his unbeaten record on the line.
A former five-weight world boxing champion, Mayweather retired in 2017 with a flawless 50-0 record having shared the ring with a who’s who of Hall-of-Fame boxers like Oscar de la Hoya and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez among others, including Pacquiao, whom he beat by lopsided decision in the best-selling fight of all time in 2015.
Pacquiao has coveted a rematch ever since, and the likelihood of scoring that escalated last year when he returned to the ring at 46 years old to roll back the years by splitting a draw with then-WBC champion, Mario Barrios.
An insider close to the event, who has worked with Mayweather before, told Boxing Social at the time that Floyd would likely have been watching the bout live, emboldened to, perhaps, return to the ring himself against his old rival.
And though Netflix’s wording in its February release was clear, Mayweather has since walked it all back by claiming it’s an exhibition and nothing else.
Speaking to ES News this week, Pacquiao said:
“That might be what he’s thinking but he signed [for] a real fight.”
“The contract that we signed is a real fight,” he said. “I wouldn’t sign an exhibition. He has to remember that.”
While Pacquiao has continued to fight since Mayweather’s retirement, advancing his pro record to 62 wins (39 KOs) against 8 losses and 3 draws, Floyd has boxed in exhibitions alongside reality stars like Logan Paul. His show with Aaron Chalmers, though, was fought mostly in an empty arena in England. Regardless, he says he’ll take part in an exhibition in Greece, as well as another with Mike Tyson, before he shares the ring with Pacquiao — again, in an exhibition.
Mayweather’s messaging runs counter to what Netflix, MP Promotions, and Pacquiao claim — that he signed for a real fight.
Why isn’t everyone on the same page?
Well, Pacquiao has one answer.
“He has his own strategy but maybe he thinks I’m going to take him lightly. I think to make me easy, prepare the way I prepare, train.”
He continued: “I have improved my strategy [from the first fight]. This time, no excuse.”
And as for whether he has a back-up plan in case this fight fails, like taking on Ryan Garcia, who beat Barrios for the WBC belt, or Rolly Romero, who is another champion at welterweight, Pacquiao said simply: “I don’t know.”
He finished: “What I signed is for Floyd.”
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