Asked about Mayweather’s recent comments suggesting the Sept. 19 fight could be treated as an exhibition, Pacquiao pointed to the agreement already in place and flatly rejected the idea.
“No exhibition,” Pacquiao told Fighthype. “It’s either a real fight or nothing. It’s a real fight.”
Pacquiao said the terms had already been agreed upon when both parties signed the contract, so it left no room at this stage to adjust the structure of the event. The fight is scheduled for Las Vegas and has been organized based on a sanctioned competition rather than a non-competitive exhibition.
“The contract we signed is a real fight,” Pacquiao said. “So that’s for sure.”
He added that he expected the rematch to take place on its original terms, despite the uncertainty caused by Mayweather’s recent comments. Pacquiao did not offer any alternative options if the situation changed, focusing on the agreement already in place.
“I don’t know,” Pacquiao replied when asked about possible contingency plans. “What I signed is a real fight.”
Pacquiao had long been planning a second fight with Mayweather after their 2015 meeting and indicated his approach would be different this time.
“I have an increasingly better strategy compared to the previous one,” he said.
This looks like a classic case of a fighter wanting to protect his perfect 50-0 record. Floyd is almost 50 years elderly, and despite his legendary defensive skills, fighting professionally carries the risk of eventually having a “1” on his resume, especially against someone as tenacious as Pacquiao.
By now calling it an exhibition, Floyd is essentially creating a safety net where he can make money without stakes. Manny’s team (MP Promotions) is adamant that the contract signed in February includes a sanctioned professional fight.
Just a few days ago (March 28), Floyd publicly withdrew from the meeting, claiming it was an exhibition and that the venue (The Sphere) was not even 100% closed.
Netflix was already advertising it as a professional event. If this turns into an exhibition, they will lose a huge part of the “historical significance” they are using to sell the stream.
Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers authoritative coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.