Mayweather could face ‘massive’ penalty if he nixes Pacquiao rematch at Sphere

Floyd Mayweather could face a hefty fine should he pull out of his planned Sept. 19 rematch with rival Manny Pacquiao at Sphere.

Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, said Thursday that both Mayweather and Pacquiao signed multiple contracts for the lauded rematch, to be the first boxing card at Sphere. If Mayweather doesn’t follow though on their agreement, he could face millions in damages for being in breach of contract.

“There’s a massive penalty,” Mathur told the Review-Journal. “There’s gonna be damages and those damages they’re quite substantial. It’s eight-, nine-figure damages.”

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Mayweather’s surprising claim

Mayweather, last week, said at an autograph signing in Las Vegas that the Sphere date wasn’t for sure and that the fight is an exhibition.

“We don’t know exactly where the fight is going to be at,” Mayweather said. “The Sphere is one of the places that they talked about. So, we don’t know if it’s 100 percent going to be there. And this is not actually a fight, it’s an exhibition.”

Mayweather’s statements are in contrast to the announcement of the fight by streaming service Netflix, which is scheduled to stream the fight live. Sphere’s social media accounts also promoted the fight announcement. In the news release announcing the bout, Pacquiao noted that he wanted to hand Mayweather, 50-0, 27 knockouts, his first professional loss of his career.

Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) went on to say that he wouldn’t fight Mayweather in an exhibition.

Sphere representatives forwarded questions to Netflix about the fight’s status.

Contracts signed

Both Pacquiao’s and Mayweather’s camps took a site visit to Sphere last month and signed three contracts for a sanctioned professional boxing match, not an exhibition, Mathur said.

Mayweather already has borrowed against his planned payout for the fight, Mathur stated. “Now, he has taken out a loan against the purse,” Mathur said.

“So outside of the deposit that he got on upon signing each contract, because he’s there was three different sets of contracts with two parties that ultimately got merged up together.

“He did get deposits and then he also took a loan against the against the purse. So, this is beyond just getting a deposit from the fight contract.”

Mathur said the fight hasn’t been canceled and that he hopes they are able to come to an agreement on the planned megafight. Mayweather has retained legal counsel, and had a Thursday deadline to move the process forward, Mathur said.

“There is something that needs to be given by today that he has an intention to cure this,” Mathur said. “And if he does, then he’d have 14 days from there to try to cure it. But I’m sure the counsel that he’s retained is going to ask for time to review all the documents and agreements and correspondences and that everyone’s been having.” Mathur said it could take weeks to figure the situation out, but that process will be carried out by attorneys.

Deadline for preparation

As is the case with Sphere events, there’s several months of planning that goes into the production of the shows, to utilize the massive LED screens inside and outside of the $2.3 billion venue. In order to have adequate time to prepare for the Mexican Independence Day weekend event, Mathur said they’d need a resolution within the next 45 days.

Mayweather has never pulled out of a fight in his 50-fight pro career and Mathur speculated that the reason why he is playing games this time around is that he doesn’t want to put his perfect record on the line.

While Mathur is hoping the situation eventually works out, he wouldn’t speculate if Mayweather could be replaced as Pacquiao’s opponent. If the situation continues with no resolution in the near term, more will be presented on the matter, Mathur said.

“It’s really like Floyd saying the car is black, but really the car is white,” Mathur said. “He’s (Mayweather) insisting it’s black, but really the car is white. And there’s no in between. There’s no shades of gray anywhere. This is a black-and-white situation. It is 100 percent a pro fight. And every agreement is based off that. And he’s been aware and he’s actually been part of the negotiations, everything.

“So, if push comes to shove and it goes down a certain road, well, at that point, certain materials that are confidential today will no longer be confidential, right? So, yeah, it’s a very, it’s a very transparent situation.”

Pacquiao speaks

In an interview posted on Instagram by Jay Oh Otamias, five-division champion Pacquaio said contracts already have been signed for the May-Pac 2 rematch and the agreement was for a sanctioned fight, not an exhibition.

“Maybe he think(s) I’m going to take him lightly,” Pacquiao said in the video. “But the contract we signed is a real fight.”

Pacquiao was also scheduled for an exhibition fight ahead of the Mayweather bout, against Ruslan Provodnikov on April 18 at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. That event has been postponed, with the new target date being June 6, a person with knowledge of the proceedings told the Review-Journal.

Mayweather Could Be Forced to Risk 50-0 Record After Pacquiao Advance Claim

Floyd Mayweather may have to put his unbeaten 50-0 record on the line after a claim surfaced that he accepted a cash advance tied to the proposed Manny Pacquiao rematch.

The revelation arrived amid growing uncertainty surrounding the planned September 19 event in Las Vegas, which Pacquiao’s camp says was agreed as a sanctioned professional contest rather than the exhibition Mayweather recently suggested.

During an appearance in Las Vegas last month, Mayweather indicated the fight might ultimately take place as an exhibition and that the venue had not yet been finalized.

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Those comments quickly drew a response from Manny Pacquiao Promotions Jas Mathur, who maintains the agreement signed by Mayweather covers a fully sanctioned bout.

Mathur told ESPN that multiple agreements were executed late last year relating to Mayweather’s return to professional boxing against Pacquiao. According to Mathur, Mayweather received payments when those contracts were signed and has also taken an advance on his purse connected to the rematch.

The advance claim adds fresh uncertainty to a fight already surrounded by questions. As WBN reported when doubts first emerged about whether the bout would be contested as a professional fight, Pacquiao’s camp has insisted from the beginning that the agreement centers on a sanctioned contest rather than an exhibition.

Cash advance claim
The saga raises new questions about a fight announced earlier this year as a professional return for Mayweather and a chance for Pacquiao to avenge his controversial 2015 defeat.

If Pacquiao’s camp attempts to enforce the agreement through legal channels, the dispute could place Mayweather’s long-protected 50-0 record firmly back into focus.

The undefeated mark has defined Mayweather’s legacy since he retired from professional competition after defeating Conor McGregor in 2017.

That undefeated status has long been a key part of the rematch discussion and is crucial for the historical stakes attached to the event.

On the surface, Mayweather appears to be having second thoughts about stepping into a sanctioned contest at the age of 49 against a rival who has pursued revenge for nearly a decade.

Add the reported purse advance to the equation and plenty still needs resolving before any punches are thrown, professional or exhibition.

April Fools confusion
Another twist arrived on April Fools’ Day when long-running boxing video outlet FightHype, a platform that has carried Mayweather exclusives for years, claimed the rematch had been canceled.

The outlet initially suggested it would elaborate once April 1 had passed, prompting speculation that the report could be an April Fools’ prank. However, several hours later FightHype reiterated the claim and stated the story was not made in jest.

Whatever the outcome, Mayweather once again finds himself at the center of uncertainty surrounding a major event.

If Pacquiao’s team pushes the matter further, the contractual dispute could ultimately force the issue of whether the rematch proceeds as a professional fight — and whether Mayweather’s famous 50-0 record must finally be put on the line again.

Floyd Mayweather may have thrown the Manny Pacquiao rematch into doubt, but he has also exposed the one truth that decides whether the event is worth anyone’s time.

If Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II is not a fully sanctioned professional fight, the sequel loses the only real hook it has left: Floyd Mayweather’s unbeaten record.

World Boxing News has reported for weeks that the rematch was being built as a full professional contest for September 19 in Las Vegas, with Netflix involved and Sphere targeted as the host venue. WBN also revealed through exclusive interviews with event executive producer and Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur why the fight could only happen now, how its streaming reach could surpass Tyson vs. Paul on Netflix, how the event’s infrastructure finally brought the rematch together, and why ticket demand could push prices into premium territory.

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Those four WBN exclusives make Mayweather’s recent comments all the more damaging.

Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2
Speaking to reporters in Las Vegas, Mayweather said the bout is “not actually a fight” and described it as an exhibition, while also stating that Sphere is only one of the venues discussed rather than a confirmed host.

Those remarks directly clash with the framework previously outlined to WBN by Mathur, who described the event as a professional match requiring months of coordination between both camps, Netflix, and multiple business partners before anything could be announced publicly.

Team Pacquiao are understood to be unhappy with any attempt to downgrade the event from a professional contest to an exhibition. Reports in the Philippines have also suggested Pacquiao could pursue legal action if the fight is no longer staged under the terms originally presented.

If that scenario unfolds, the issue moves beyond promotion and begins to touch the very reason anyone would care about a second fight in the first place.

Floyd’s ‘0’
At 49 and 47 respectively, Mayweather and Pacquiao are already well beyond the prime window when this rivalry should have reached its peak.

The first fight was targeted for 2010 before finally taking place in 2015, five years late and widely criticized as a disappointment compared to the buildup, the record gate, and the eye-watering ticket prices. A second fight in 2026 carries even more risk of falling short unless one crucial element remains intact.

That element is Mayweather’s undefeated benchmark.

Without the possibility of Floyd Mayweather dropping to 50-1, the rematch loses the tension that would justify revisiting the rivalry 16 years after its ideal moment. Instead, it risks drifting into the category of two aging superstars moving around the ring for spectacle rather than genuine competition.

That outcome carries little sporting merit, particularly given how the first bout unfolded.

Pacquiao’s name still carries weight and Mayweather’s star power still sells, but nostalgia alone rarely makes an event feel essential. The original fight already demonstrated that anticipation and reality can end up being very different things.

Money and Meaning
There is also a business consequence to Mayweather softening the terms.

If Mayweather wants to maximize the financial potential of a second Pacquiao event, a full professional bout carries far greater value than an exhibition marketed as a polished Las Vegas showcase. The idea of Mayweather finally placing his “0” on the line is what turns a retread into a genuine event.

WBN has already detailed how premium packages were being explored for the card, with Mathur outlining plans for a top-end live experience at Sphere that could exceed the benchmark set in 2015. Limited capacity, VIP demand, Netflix’s reach, and the scale of the names involved mean ticket prices could climb even higher.

Fans paying the kind of money expected for ringside or hospitality access are not investing in a museum piece. What they are buying into is the possibility of Mayweather placing his legacy on the line years after retirement.

If the contest remains a legitimate professional fight, the rematch can still be sold as unfinished business with historic implications. If it becomes an exhibition, justifying the price tag, the hype, and the global attention becomes far more difficult.

Changed the Conversation
Until now, the rematch had been framed as a major professional return built on infrastructure, platform, and timing. WBN’s exclusives consistently pointed to a structured event with serious backing and a serious plan.

Mayweather’s remarks have now moved the conversation away from how big the fight might become and toward a more basic question about whether it means anything at all.

Without Floyd Mayweather risking the “0” that defined his entire career, Mayweather vs. Pacquiao II stops looking like a super-fight and starts to resemble something very different.

Instead of unfinished business between two rivals, it becomes two legends revisiting old ground long after the moment passed, for reasons that feel closer to show business than boxing. – If you use these WBN quotes, please link back to the source: https://www.worldboxingnews.com/mayweather-pacquiao-2-floyds-0/

Floyd Mayweather Risks Breaching Contract Over Manny Pacquiao Fight Change

Floyd Mayweather is set to come out of retirement to face Manny Pacquiao at the Sphere in Las Vegas on September 16 in a blockbuster rematch after beating the Filipino all the way back in 2015.

After claiming the fight will be an exhibition, boxing commentator Mike Coppinger has revealed that the undefeated star could be in danger of breaching his contract if he remains insistent on shifting his fight with Pacquiao from a professional bout.

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In an interview with Vegas Sports Today this past weekend, Mayweather claimed that his fight with Pacquaio is not actually a professional fight, but an exhibition fight similar to his bout against ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.

“This is actually not a fight it’s an exhibition, you know I got an exhibition with Tyson also. Mayweather added. “We’re going to do it again and hopefully entertain the people.”

An exhibition fight with Pacquiao would mean his undefeated record remains spotless at 50-0 if he loses.

Money also stated that the Sphere is not yet confirmed to be the venue for the fight, but just one of the locations being considered.

Pacquiao’s team deny exhibition fight

Coppinger reported that MP Promotions CEO Jas Mathur has denied the fight being an exhibition. He wrote:

“Spoke to MP Promotions CEO Jas Mathur, who confirmed Floyd Mayweather & Manny Pacquiao are contracted to meet in an official fight at The Sphere. Floyd claimed over the weekend it’s an exhibition with the venue TBD. Pacquiao. Mathur said Manny isn’t interested in an exhibition.”

The former eight-weight world champion has previously said he would like to be the fighter to strip Mayweather of his undefeated record.

“I want Floyd to be forever haunted by the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him.”

The 49-year-old came out of retirement in July last year to face Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight belt, earning a surprising majority draw.

Mayweather’s preparation for the rematch

In addition to Pacquiao, Mayweather is set to fight Mike Tyson on April 25 in the Democratic of Congo. However, as the date edges closer, there are serious doubts that the fight will happen.

He is also set to take on kickboxing legend Mike Zambidis in Athens, on July 25, with Pacquiao being set to take on Russian boxer Ruslan Provodnikov on April 18 as both boxing greats prepare for the blockbuster rematch in September.

The rematch would be Mayweather’s first professional fight since beating UFC star Conor McGregor in 2017 in Las Vegas to retire undefeated at 50-0.

The highly anticipated rematch between boxing icons Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao seems to have some key details that still need to be worked out.

As it stands, the bout is scheduled for Saturday, September 19 and is expected to stream globally on Netflix.

The event was officially announced through a February 23 Netflix press release. Early promotional material billed the contest as the “first ever professional boxing match to take place at Sphere in Las Vegas.”

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Not so fast, says Floyd Mayweather himself.

Speaking in a recent interview with Vegas Sports Today, the undefeated hall of famer made it clear that fans expecting a continuation of their 2015 showdown may need to adjust expectations.

“This is not actually a fight. It’s an exhibition.”

Those comments contradict how the bout is currently being represented to the boxing public. The fight is listed on BoxRec, the sport’s record-keeper, as a professional contest. Sources tell Boxing Social that the listing was entered by a site administrator without official confirmation or input from the event’s organizers.

Mayweather himself has pushed back on the idea that this will be a legitimate professional rematch.

“We’re going to do it again and hopefully entertain the people.”

Even the venue, which many believed to be locked in, appears to still be up in the air. While the Sphere in Las Vegas has been heavily discussed as the likely host, Mayweather indicated that nothing has been finalized.

“As of right now, we don’t know exactly where the fight is going to be at. We don’t know the location of the fight,” he said. “The Sphere is one of the locations that they talked about, so we don’t know if it’s 100% going to be there.”

Despite the ambiguity, interest in the bout remains sky-high, largely due to the legacy of their first encounter. When Mayweather and Pacquiao finally met in May 2015, the event became a cultural and financial juggernaut. While the fight itself drew criticism for failing to live up to the hype inside the ring, it shattered records at every level, becoming the highest-grossing fight in boxing history and rewriting the benchmarks for pay per view buys and live gate revenue.

On that night, Mayweather delivered a tactical performance to earn a unanimous decision victory. He retained his WBA and WBC welterweight titles while also claiming Pacquiao’s WBO belt.

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.