Mayweather vs Pacquiao rematch in doubt: Here’s hoping it falls apart
The Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao rematch may be falling apart, and we’d be better off if it does.
LOS ANGELES, CA - DECEMBER 10: Floyd Mayweather Jr. attends the game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Los Angeles Lakers during the 2025-26 Emirates Cup Quarterfinals on December 10, 2025 at Crypto. Com Arena in Los Angeles, California.
NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2025 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images The rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao may be falling apart. If it does, we should be glad.
In February, the streaming giant Netflix announced that the two would fight again on September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, with Mayweather announcing around the same time that he was “resuming his boxing career” at age 49, having not competed in a sanctioned bout since 2017’s win over Conor McGregor. But Mayweather is now insisting that a Pacquiao “rematch” would be an exhibition , and also that The Sphere is not locked in as the venue. Mayweather is also insisting that a planned exhibition with Mike Tyson is still going to happen, even though there’s been no solid word on a date or venue for that, and he’s also linked to an exhibition with Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis , which has been discussed for June 27 in Athens.
With the way things stand now, Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 is looking a lot more unlikely. The 47-year-old Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KO) has said in the past that he would only do a rematch with Mayweather (50-0, 27 KO) is it were a sanctioned fight, one that counts on your record, no special rules or glove sizes, no “everybody has fun and the fans see some old guys doing light sparring and nobody’s feelings have to be hurt at the end” stuff. The exhibition format had a little run for a few years in boxing circles, with Mayweather taking part in many of them across the world, cashing checks.
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