Pacquiao Clarifies Mayweather Rematch is Professional Fight, Not Exhibition
Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has firmly stated that his highly anticipated September showdown with Floyd Mayweather will be a legitimate professional boxing match, directly contradicting recent comments from his fellow hall of famer who suggested it would be merely an exhibition.
Contradictory Statements Emerge About Fight Nature
Last month, streaming giant Netflix announced the long-awaited rematch between these boxing legends, scheduled for September 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. This bout represents a sequel to their historic 2015 clash, which generated an astonishing 4.6 million pay-per-view purchases and stands as the highest-grossing fight in boxing history.
However, earlier this week, Mayweather surprised the boxing community by declaring that this encounter would be strictly for entertainment purposes. "It's an exhibition, so we're both winners," Mayweather told Vegas Sports Today. "We just want to go out there and entertain the people and put on a good show."
Pacquiao's Firm Rebuttal and Contract Details
Pacquiao has now issued a strong rebuttal to these claims, emphasizing the professional nature of their agreement. "I want to be very clear that the contract we signed is for a professional boxing match. This is not an exhibition; it is a real fight," Pacquiao stated in an official communication sent to AFP.
The boxing superstar further explained, "I wish to clear up any misinformation regarding my upcoming bout against Floyd Mayweather. From the beginning, my intention has been to give the fans what they truly want to see. A high-level, competitive sanctioned fight."
Pacquiao highlighted that Netflix's February announcement accurately reflected the agreed terms and expressed his expectation that the original agreement would be honored without alteration.
Promotional Team Reacts Strongly to Mayweather's Comments
Adding to the controversy, Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, strongly criticized Mayweather's characterization of the fight during an interview with ESPN. Mathur asserted that Mayweather's statements constituted a breach of their contractual agreement.
"Floyd Mayweather is officially in breach of his contract," Mathur told the prominent US sports media outlet, reinforcing the seriousness with which Pacquiao's camp views the situation.
This developing situation creates significant uncertainty around what was already one of the most anticipated sporting events of the year, with fans now awaiting further clarification about whether they will witness a competitive professional bout or an entertainment-focused exhibition.
