Floyd Mayweather still has not confirmed his rematch with Manny Pacquiao, and his silence now raises grave doubts whether this fight will take place at all.

While Pacquiao and his team continue to push the idea that a second fight has been agreed, Mayweather has said nothing beyond suggesting that any return would be an exhibition and that his undefeated record is not in jeopardy.

This gap between the two sides has only widened, resulting in one version being shared publicly while the other remains absent.

Pacquiao insists the deal is done

Pacquiao has repeatedly said the contract is for a fully sanctioned professional fight, not an exhibition.

“The contract we signed is a real fight,” Pacquiao said. “It’s either a real fight or nothing.”

His team went further, maintaining that contracts had been signed and financial commitments made, and Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur provided those details in multiple interviews, including with World Boxing News.

At this stage, the message was clear – the fight had begun and it would be fought on fully professional terms.

Mayweather’s silence tells a different story

Mayweather’s position does not match this certainty.

The former five-weight world champion has not yet officially confirmed the rematch and only referred to the exhibition conditions when discussing a possible return to the professional ranks.

There has been no announcement from Mayweather Promotions, no official launch of the event, and no confirmation from any broadcaster despite reports linking Netflix to the project.

Even that element has gone silent, with no evident promotion or support to suggest that a major fight announcement is imminent.

Mathur, who spoke out during the initial rollout, has also withdrawn from public comments in recent weeks.

The famed Mayweather pattern

The situation mirrors previous instances where reports of fighting have gained popularity without ever being confirmed.

Earlier this year, a proposed exhibition featuring Mike Tyson followed a similar path, with a reported date circulating ahead of his departure, with neither man formally mentioning its status.

Mayweather has long maintained a consistent stance in situations like this.

“Nothing is confirmed unless you hear it here first,” he said throughout his career, a standard he maintained until the exhibition era.

Until confirmation comes directly from Mayweather, speculation alone will not be enough to make the fight real.

Unresolved, not imminent

Pacquiao’s position remains unchanged, and there is an expectation in his camp that the rematch will be conducted as a truly professional fight.

But without Mayweather publicly responding to these conditions, the situation remains unresolved – and increasingly questionable.

At this point the direction becomes clear.

Throughout the discussion surrounding the second meeting, only one side is actively driving the narrative, while the other has yet to take any action.

Until Floyd Mayweather says it himself, there is no fight – just one-sided noise.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

Terence Crawford or Floyd Mayweather? Hall of Fame player Tim Bradley only sees one winner.

Eight years after Mayweather retired undefeated, Crawford followed suit. The two shared many of the characteristics that define elite warriors. Both won titles in different weight classes and relied on IQ, timing and accuracy rather than outright aggression. It’s worth noting that they were able to adapt mid-fight and take away from their opponents what they do best without taking unnecessary risks.

They were also very different. Mayweather, especially in the later stages of his career, was almost entirely defensive and content to win rounds through control and minimal effort. “Bud” was more proactive and fan-friendly – ​​changing positions, increasing his efficiency and pushing for the finish when there was a chance.

It’s an intriguing clash of styles and a natural choice for a high-end fantasy fight ES Newsthe animated Bradley had no hesitation in predicting Crawford’s victory.

“Crawford!…He’s got too much power, man, too much power for Floyd. He’s as shrewd as [Floyd] Is. He has perfect timing. He can play both ways – Floyd doesn’t like to face southpaws. Damn, Zab Judah was getting his act together before he ran out of gas. I’ve been saying this for years, I have Crawford all day long.

Crawford was only respectful when asked about Mayweather, and even admitted he believed Floyd was the only fighter who could have caused him problems. This will remain one of the hottest intergenerational debates.

“Great fighter. We’ll have to watch him closely,” Valcarcel told X.

Chaves already holds the WBO Latino lightweight title and entered the fight No. 3 by the sanctioning body. Public praise after such a performance only improves his standing.

Promoter Eddie Hearn was later equally enthusiastic and said the performance confirmed what he had heard about Chaves.

“I thought he was brilliant, amazing. A lot of people told me a lot about him,” Hearn told the media about Chaves. “He’s never fought outside of Argentina, so you never really know if all the hype is true. What we saw tonight is a powerful boxer, but also an smart fighter. He’s someone with a good IQ. Yes, speed and brains. He placed the shot perfectly.”

Madueno had the opportunity to fight established opponents and was seen as a solid test for a fighter making his U.S. debut. Instead, Chaves ended things early with one pristine left hand, which changed the tone of the night.

“He’s a very tough guy and Chaves destroyed him. I think he’s going to be a huge, huge star,” Hearn said.

Taking second place in the WBO rankings may prove more valuable to Chaves than any public call. If Shakur Stevenson moves completely to 140 pounds, a WBO lightweight title fight could open up quickly, putting Chaves on track.

He doesn’t need names like Stevenson or Gervonta Davis to agree to a fight if he continues to win and protect his ranking. Sanctioning bodies regularly move challengers to eliminators or vacant title fights when champions leave divisions or go in another direction.

The lightweight division is crowded, but perhaps Chaves won’t have to chase anyone down. If he stays busy, a title tour could come his way.