Manny Pacquiao accused of collapsing world title fight talks before Floyd Mayweather rematch

Rolly Romero has claimed Manny Pacquiao’s unreasonable demands saw their potential world title fight collapse.

Pacquiao has made a full professional comeback to the boxing ring at the age of 47, and was unfortunate not to be world champion in a controversial draw with Mario Barrios last year.

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As a result, he was looking to land a renewed title shot instead with current WBA 147lbs title holder Romero, and talks rumbled on for several months but collapsed.

One of many obstacles to the bout was understood to be Romero’s mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov, who is waiting in the wings to challenge the American.

But the champion has instead placed blame on Pacquiao, citing unreasonable demands as the reason he has now moved on to a lucrative rematch with Floyd Mayweather.

He explained: “[Pacquiao] wanted more money because he can’t sell anymore.

“You can say whatever you want, but the thing is it was weird with Manny because they were super adamant about making the fight but they never wanted to do it.

“We tried and tried and tried but they still didn’t want to do it.

“But then they use my name and likeness over and over ‘we’re going to fight Rolly’ and me, honestly, I didn’t care for the fight.

“They all play big tough guy until it’s time to put a pen to the paper. “Pacquiao wasted my time.”

Pacquiao was lured much more by the possibility of a meeting with former rival Mayweather, where the pair could earn purses close to $100 million each.

The blockbuster event will take place at Las Vegas’ Sphere on September 19.

Does Pacquiao have a chance of beating Mayweather?

Mayweather won their famous first meeting back in 2015, putting on a boxing clinic to tame the gifted Filipino.

But Pacquiao has looked in brilliant shape, particularly when he returned in his professional clash with Barrios, and will fancy his chances.

‘Money’ has been limited to just a handful of exhibitions since his original retirement after beating Conor McGregor in 2017.

But he has remained in shape in the gym, and is gunning for another victory over Pacquiao after deciding to risk his perfect 50-0 record.

Romero expects Mayweather will inflict the same outcome on Pacquiao.

He added: “Floyd wins. And whatever happens, happens. It’s meant to be. Whoever God wants to win is going to win.

“But what would be the difference [to] the first fight? Was there really anything different that Pacquiao could have [done]?”

Mayweather vs Pacquiao II Winner Could Face Ryan Garcia for WBC Title

If Floyd Mayweather or Manny Pacquiao decides to pursue one more run at 147 after September 19, the WBC’s internal rules could place the welterweight title directly in play for 2027.

Ryan Garcia currently holds the WBC belt, meaning any credible title pursuit at welterweight would ultimately require engagement with the reigning champion.

The rematch creates a parallel track that intersects with the championship picture next year if the winner stays at welterweight.

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Welterweight Weight Matters
Pacquiao fought at 147 in July 2025 at age 47, demonstrating that a divisional title remains realistic for him if the terms are right.

If the rematch is contracted at welterweight and the winner signals interest in another meaningful run, a championship conversation becomes viable in a way it would not at 154.

No belt is attached to September 19, and no weight has been confirmed. The relevance depends entirely on what division is chosen and whether the winner intends to stay active afterward.

The WBC Angle
If a returning legend pursues a championship at 147, the WBC title is the most direct headline route. Garcia’s position as champion, combined with his public willingness to entertain major fights, places that belt at the center of any serious discussion.

Mayweather’s WBC champion emeritus designation could be raised as part of any future request, subject to Board approval.

The status does not override the current champion and does not attach a title to the rematch. It simply preserves a procedural pathway should the WBC choose to consider it.

Therefore, whoever comes out on top would hold a serious claim through the previous designation and could request an immediate title shot.

Garcia has a summer return scheduled, but if the champion elected to revisit negotiations after the rematch, the emeritus provision could be formally raised for consideration without procedural conflict.

Mayweather or Pacquiao vs Garcia for the WBC belt then becomes a viable outcome from December onwards.

How The WBC Framework Applies
The WBC’s champion emeritus designation exists to recognize former champions while preserving the current title structure. It does not automatically grant a shot, but it allows the Board of Governors discretion to consider a returning champion for immediate contention if circumstances align.

Any such move would require formal approval and would be weighed against existing mandates and divisional activity at the time. The designation keeps a procedural door open without guaranteeing entry.

What Would Need To Happen
If Garcia remains champion into 2027 and either Mayweather or Pacquiao signals title intent at 147, the intersection is straightforward.

For now, the rematch stands alone without championship implications.

Structurally, a welterweight winner who stays active would not be entering an empty landscape, and Garcia’s belt remains the clearest route into the discussion.

A convincing Mayweather victory without visible decline would raise the prospect of Mayweather vs. Garcia in the first half of 2027.

Official fight at 49 reopens debate about money and motive

Floyd Mayweather will face Manny Pacquiao again in 2026, this time in a sanctioned rematch. At 49, he is putting his 50-0 record back into competitive play.

When Mayweather defeated Pacquiao in 2015 and later boxed Conor McGregor in 2017, the purses were so large that retirement felt permanent. He had reached 50-0 and headlined the two richest events the sport had ever produced. Few fighters have exited on stronger financial ground. Yet he remained highly visible. The private jets, high-stakes gambling sessions, luxury purchases, and social media cash displays were not occasional glimpses; they were a constant backdrop to his post-career life.

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In the years after McGregor, Mayweather stayed active through exhibitions staged around the world. Those events offered spectacle and revenue while limiting competitive exposure. The undefeated record remained untouched, and the stakes were carefully managed.

This return carries different implications. At 49, he is preparing for a rematch with Pacquiao, now 47, rather than another exhibition. An official bout introduces formal scoring, regulatory oversight, and the possibility that the 50-0 mark could change. That choice naturally invites questions about motive.

Joe Rogan, the longtime UFC colour commentator and the host of one of the biggest combat-sports podcasts, touched on that tension during a recent episode. “Now they’re gonna do it again, and they’re both 50, it’s crazy,” Rogan said. “Yeah, I’m gonna watch it, f*** yeah I’m gonna watch him fighting Mike (Tyson), I think that’s crazy.” Rogan also questioned Mayweather’s spending habits, noting, “Floyd spends money like it’s a tap … and even as much money as he’s made in his career … it’s like, now he’s got to come out of retirement.”

The involvement of Netflix further alters the financial equation. A global streaming partner shifts the revenue model away from traditional pay-per-view and toward large-scale platform guarantees. That changes the calculus for a fighter whose career has consistently revolved around maximizing business leverage.

At this stage, the undefeated record is more than a statistic. It functions as commercial infrastructure. Exhibitions, speaking appearances, and promotional ventures continue to draw strength from the 50-0 mark. An official loss would not merely add a number to the right side of his record; it would alter the foundation of a brand built on permanence.

There is no verified evidence that Mayweather is in financial trouble. Still, nine years removed from his last major professional purse, he is again placing that pristine record into competitive jeopardy. The “Money” persona was built on the suggestion that he would never need to return. This comeback does not confirm the old fan theory. It does ensure that it will follow him into the ring.

“He wanted that”: Manny Pacquiao refused one condition for Floyd Mayweather rematch

Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are set for a professionally sanctioned rematch in September, eleven years on from their first meeting.

In 2015, Mayweather took a unanimous decision on the cards in what is still the highest grossing boxing bout of all time. The fight had marinated for around six years and was underwhelming to many fans. A rematch when both are close to 50 years old won’t right that wrong, but there’s little doubt that it will generate significant interest.

Whilst Pacquiao made a professional return last year – fighting to a draw with then WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios – Mayweather has only stepped through the ropes for exhibitions since 2017.

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‘PacMan’ told Sports Center that when his rival decided to return to the pro ranks, the return fight was immediately on the table.

“It just happens that I’m still active in boxing and he came out from retirement. So, he decided to do it again. This is it. I’m so excited for the fight.”

The Filipino fighting icon fought with a shoulder injury at the MGM Grand in 2015, and hopes this time around, despite being well past his prime, he will be fresh to deliver an exciting main event.

“I learnt a lot from that fight, way back in 2015. We’ve become mature now and [know] how to handle it. I hope that it will happen again like the way it was in 2015 – the experience – not really 100%, but [close.] I’m hoping this time around no excuses, especially to my condition.”

The fight has added intrigue given Mayweather will put his precious undefeated record on the line, but Pacquiao revealed that he had first tried to avoid that by making the bout an exhibition.

“Before, he wanted an exhibition with me. I disagree. I don’t want to fight an exhibition with him. I want to fight a real fight like this. This is it. This is what [I’ve been] waiting for.”

Netflix will stream the fight live from The Sphere, Las Vegas on September 19. Mayweather’s record will either notch upwards to 51-0, or remain at 50 wins if Pacquiao can turn back the clock.

Netflix officially announces Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2 with date and venue

The rematch is official. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will meet again.

Mayweather and Pacquiao fought in 2015 following around six years of demand for the match-up. Mayweather won a unanimous decision and would go on to retire undefeated two years later. Pacquiao fought on up until 2021, albeit with a two-year break from 2019, and retired on a loss to Yordenis Ugas. He returned to the paid ranks last year, fighting then WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios to a draw.

This week, ‘Money’ Mayweather revealed that he would be making a professional return following an exhibition bout with Mike Tyson in April. It came not long after Pacquiao had confirmed his own exhibition against former champion Ruslan Provodnikov for the same month.

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Now, Netflix has officially announced that the two rivals will meet for a second time, over a decade on from their initial encounter, at The Sphere, Las Vegas on September 19.

The futuristic arena, which opened in 2023 just off the Strip, has hosted the UFC and major entertainment events, but is yet to stage a professional boxing card. A September rematch between two of the sport’s biggest commercial forces would mark its first foray into the sweet science – and likely do so on an unprecedented scale.

Mayweather has long prided himself on breaking gate and pay-per-view records, while Pacquiao’s global fanbase remains one of boxing’s most loyal. With Netflix’s accessibility and existing subscriber base, the rematch – a professionally sanctioned contest – can surpass the record-breaking 4.5 million homes of the 2015 bout.

If that first fight was criticised for being over-marinated, a 49-year-old Mayweather and 47-year-old Pacquiao will do little to make that wrong right, but there’s no doubt that the boxing world will stop to watch come September.

Floyd Mayweather’s boxing comeback chances increase with latest development

Pound-for-pound great Floyd Mayweather Jr. could be set to end a nine-year hiatus from the ring and return to the professional scene next year, after collapsed talks for a world title contest have opened the door for a lucrative opportunity.

Mayweather hung up the gloves following a stoppage win against Conor McGregor in the famous ‘Money Fight’ between the respective superstars of boxing and mixed martial arts back in 2017.

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Since then, ‘TBE” has fought solely in exhibitions and raked in further cash, but a return to professional fighting has been mentioned continuously, especially after the comeback of perennial rival Manny Pacquiao in the summer.

Pacquiao could only muster a draw upon his return, coming extremely close to dethroning Mario Barrios and claiming the WBC welterweight title despite an extended period of inactivity.

Still, the Filipino icon had been linked to another world title bout, with strong suggestions that an announcement for a meeting with WBA champion Rolando Romero was imminent.

However, it is now understood that talks for that scrap have collapsed and that ‘Rolly’ will instead be made to fulfil his mandatory and attempt to defend his belt against Uzbekistan’s Shakhram Giysaov.

Speaking with The Ring, Giyasov’s manager, Vadim Kornilov, explained that he and his fighter would have been willing to wait for their shot, if the fight between Pacquiao and Romero was going ahead.

“I don’t think an exception works when there’s no fight and it’s not announced,”

“If [the Romero-Pacquiao fight] was happening, that’s one thing; we have a lot respect for a fight like that and for Pacquiao especially.

“But when there is no fight, I believe that rules have to be followed and Rolly has to fight Giyasov. I never understand why some fighters get exceptions and don’t have to fight their mandatories.”

As a result, Mayweather can now be considered as the frontrunner for Pacquiao’s next outing, after months of whispers that the pair will meet again over a decade on from their initial encounter.

WBN reveal fresh updates on the upcoming Mayweather vs Pacquiao II, including potential Netflix distribution and fan-first experiences.

The rematch is targeting a late spring timeframe, and organizers are building a multi-fight rollout designed to engage fans through 2026.

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Distribution Options Under Discussion
A spokesperson for Indistry, the company leading promotion for the rematch, told WBN:

“Discussions are currently ongoing with several distribution partners, including Netflix, which is a strong option. However, Indistry is also looking at other distribution partners that align with our vision for delivering a distinctly different, fan-forward experience around boxing.”

Venue Not Yet Confirmed
The official venue for the rematch has not been announced. Indistry clarified:

“Cannot confirm the venue yet. Given the scale of the event, we’re evaluating spaces that can support the broader experience we’re building around the fight, in addition to hosting the bout itself. We’ll announce the venue once it has been selected.”

Pacquiao’s Multi-Fight Rollout
The spokesperson also confirmed plans for Manny Pacquiao’s upcoming schedule, according to WBN’s exclusive reporting:

“The immediate priority is the Mayweather rematch. Following that, Indistry will build out Manny Pacquiao’s next multi-fight lineup with a strategic rollout through 2026.”

This confirms that the rematch is the first in a sequence of events designed to maintain fan engagement throughout 2026 and beyond.

Indistry is leading the promotion to ensure the next phase of Pacquiao’s career is executed with the company’s experience in live sports and lifestyle events.

Next Steps for Fans
With the rematch still targeting a late spring timeframe, the combination of distribution discussions, venue planning, and the multi-fight rollout highlights the scale and ambition of the project.

Fans should watch for additional announcements soon, with Netflix and other platforms potentially providing access, making this rematch both a distinctive cultural event and a sporting occasion. – If you use these WBN quotes, please link back to the source: https://www.worldboxingnews.com/mayweather-pacquiao-ii-netflix-option/