Floyd Mayweather must pass strict commission request to make boxing return

Floyd Mayweather will have to undergo an examination from a commission before making his boxing comeback against Manny Pacquiao.

Mayweather, 49, is set to resume his legendary professional career when he faces former foe Pacquiao, 47, on September 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada.

It’s a rematch of their ‘Fight of the Century’ in 2015, which Mayweather won by unanimous decision.

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His bout against Pacquiao will be his first contest under a pro setting since his money-spinning showdown against UFC fighter Conor McGregor in August 2017.

Mayweather, however, has been active in recent years, having been involved in a series of exhibitions, including bouts against Logan Paul and John Gotti III.

But given his clash against Pacquiao is a pro fight, ‘Money’ will have to appear in front of the Nevada State Athletic Commission (NSAC) before receiving a boxing license.

That’s according to Boxing Scene, who claim Mayweather will require ‘light examination’ by NSAC, ‘likely just a cursory observation of his sparring at the Las Vegas-based Mayweather Boxing Club’.

One source told the outlet: “Floyd’s always in shape and is [routinely] in the gym.”

Both Mayweather and Pacquiao are expected to clear NSAC’s tests.

What happens if Floyd Mayweather fails NSAC’s examination?

Pacquiao returned to action last summer when he fought Mario Barrios in Las Vegas for the WBC welterweight world title.

He was granted a license from NSAC, so he should have no problems in receiving one for his rematch against Mayweather.

If Mayweather fails to obtain a license from NSAC, then organisers could look to move the location of the fight away from Las Vegas.

CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS, who are promoting the event, may look to Texas, who have a lenient commission given they sanctioned Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul.

Despite the 30-year age gap, the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulations granted Tyson a license to face Paul.

Logan Paul Claims Floyd Mayweather Still Owes Him Millions

WWE star says Floyd Mayweather did not fully pay him for their boxing exhibition bout in 2021

After years of sitting on the shelf, Floyd Mayweather suddenly has three fights already booked in 2026, prompting fans to wonder if the 49-year-old is struggling financially once again. Logan Paul added smoke to that fire with a jaw-dropping allegation stemming from their exhibition bout in 2021.

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Although it was an exhibition, Paul claimed Mayweather still owes him $1.5 million from that event, after the latter sold the rights to promote the fight for $10 million. Paul claimed that the company that initially bought the fight is now suing Mayweather for reneging on the deal, leading him to believe he will never see the money he is owed.

“I didn’t make as much money as you’d think fighting Floyd,” Paul said on ‘The Iced Coffee Hour’ podcast. “He still owes me a million and a half, maybe more.

“He pre-sold the fight using my likeness to some company — I think in Dubai — for $10 million cash. We ended up doing the fight in the [United States] with a different company. That’s the company that put on the fight, but he sold our fight with my name and likeness to someone else in Dubai for $10 million cash… Our deal was 15 percent and he smoked me… That company that paid him that money is suing him. I actually don’t know the status of that lawsuit, but he has a bunch of legal trouble at the moment. I don’t think I’m ever getting the money.”

As a successful WWE star and entrepreneur, Paul can afford to let a $1.5 million slip away. The number still makes for a jarring accusation that most would not have kept under wraps for five years.

The fight was only one of Paul’s four boxing bouts and his only exhibition. The 30-year-old has only fought once since getting in the ring with Mayweather, winning an odd disqualification over Dillon Danis in Misfits Boxing in 2023.

Logan Paul’s claim adds to Floyd Mayweather rumors

Paul’s claim that Mayweather is under legal pressure only reinforces the idea that ‘Money’ is returning to boxing to support himself. Despite being one of the highest-paid boxers of all time, Mayweather has often been alleged to have financial troubles, particularly since his initial retirement in 2008.

Mayweather has attempted to make money in other ways, including starting his own promotion and management company. Yet, time and again, rumors surrounding his financial status return.

Mayweather, who is already booked to face Mike Tyson in April and Manny Pacquiao in September, announced his third fight of the year on Sunday. He added an exhibition bout with former kickboxing world champion Mike Zambidis in June, giving himself three fights in a six-month span after sitting on the sidelines since August 2024.

As World Boxing News recently reported, Floyd Mayweather’s WBC Champion Emeritus designation remains active within the organization’s regulatory framework.

This stipulation, handed down upon his retirement in 2015, can still play a part in his September 19 rematch with Manny Pacquiao as the clash moves forward as a professional bout.

The WBC Champion Emeritus Status
The World Boxing Council grants Champion Emeritus recognition to select former titleholders who step away from active competition.

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The status preserves a former champion’s standing within WBC governance and allows a direct title opportunity to be requested in the division previously held.

Any such request requires approval from the WBC Board of Governors. It cannot override an existing champion, confirmed mandatory challenger, or binding contractual obligation without formal review.

However, if a champion vacates, the designation permits the WBC to authorize Mayweather to fight for the title.

No Automatic Title Attachment
Champion Emeritus does not automatically convert a scheduled fight into a championship contest. It does not install a returning boxer as champion. It establishes eligibility within the WBC framework.

The organization retains full discretion over whether and when that eligibility is exercised.

Why It Connects To Mayweather vs Pacquiao II
With Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II confirmed as a professional contest and weight discussions centered on 147 or 154, the WBC structure becomes relevant if either division changes before September.

If a title becomes available or the championship picture shifts, Mayweather’s emeritus standing would permit him to pursue recognition without first entering a standard eliminator process.

Whether that route is granted would depend entirely on the WBC’s assessment of the divisional landscape at that time.

A Regulatory Option, Not A Guaranteed Outcome
The emeritus classification is a regulatory mechanism within the WBC system. It keeps a former champion inside the sanctioning body’s system while permitting normal title movement to continue.

For Mayweather, it represents a procedural option tied to WBC rules rather than a predetermined championship outcome, with the Pacquiao rematch currently unaffected.

Any such development would depend entirely on future divisional circumstances and WBC approval.

Joe Rogan Questions Real Reason Behind Floyd Mayweather’s Manny Pacquiao Rematch

Why would the richest boxer in the world spend his retirement putting his health on the line?

Floyd Mayweather, who supposedly made over a billion dollars over his decorated career, is not only scheduled to face Mike Tyson in an exhibition but has also agreed to a rematch with rival Manny Pacquiao, a decade after their first fight. This appears to have prompted UFC color commentator Joe Rogan to raise a valid point on his podcast while in a conversation with Terence Crawford.

“Now they’re gonna do it again, and they’re both 50, it’s crazy,” Rogan told the former undisputed champion. “Yeah, I’m gonna watch it, f— yeah I’m gonna watch it. I’m gonna watch him fighting Mike [Tyson], I think that’s crazy. Look at Floyd. Floyd spends money like it’s a tap, like he’s got a tap with an unlimited amount of money.

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“And even as much money as he’s made in his career, which he’s probably made as much, if not more than any boxer ever, there are all these lawsuits. He hasn’t been paying things, and he owes money on this and owes money on that, and it’s like, now he’s got to come out of retirement.”

Rogan’s speculation about Mayweather’s finances isn’t unfounded. The boxing great is currently entangled in multiple legal disputes that paint a picture of significant financial strain. Two Miami-based jewelers—AJ’s Jewelry and Leonard Sulaymanov—have reportedly filed a suit against him over alleged unpaid jewelry purchases. In addition, he is being sued by the owners of a luxury apartment he rented in Manhattan, who claim he allegedly owes back rent.

At the same time, Floyd Mayweather has launched a major lawsuit of his own. He filed a $340 million suit against his former broadcaster, Showtime, alleging that former executive Stephen Espinoza diverted money that was contractually due to him to his longtime business partner, Al Haymon. With several cases unfolding simultaneously, the financial and legal stakes are undeniably high.

Amid these legal battles, speculation has grown that Mayweather’s return to the ring is financially motivated. He famously defeated Manny Pacquiao in their widely criticized but commercially massive 2015 bout, reportedly earning between $250 million and $300 million from the fight. And a rematch is reportedly being targeted for September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Meanwhile, Mayweather is also scheduled for an exhibition bout against Mike Tyson in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on April 25.

Nevertheless, Joe Rogan’s skepticism about the motives behind these high-profile bouts was echoed by his guest, Terence Crawford, who had his own controversial take on another major fight involving a boxing legend.

Terence Crawford feels the Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson bout was ‘scripted’

On the same podcast, former champion Terence Crawford offered his own controversial take, claiming the recent Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul fight was scripted. Despite Tyson reportedly earning $20 million, Crawford didn’t budge from his stance on the fight.

“I don’t know, I think it was scripted,” Crawford told Rogan. “I ain’t never seen Tyson biting his gloves. It was taking all that he could to not hit him. It’s heartbreaking seeing an icon go out like that.

“He shouldn’t have been in there. At all. I think there’s other ways [to make money].”

Notably, Mike Tyson, who was 58 during the fight, gassed out after the first round and handed the bout to Jake Paul on a silver platter. ‘The Problem Child’ won the fight by unanimous decision.

Regardless, with lawsuits mounting and a reputation for lavish spending, Rogan’s theory that Floyd Mayweather’s return is a financial necessity rather than a competitive desire continues to gain traction among fans and pundits alike.