Report: Pacquiao camp insists Mayweather fight not an exhibition

MANILA, Philippines — The camp of Manny Pacquiao contradicted Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s recent statement that their fight set later this year will be an exhibition.

Ring Magazine’s Mike Coppinger reported having spoken to Pacquiao’s MP Promotions CEO Jas Mathur, who insisted that Mayweather and Pacquiao are contractually obligated to clash in an “official fight”.

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. Mathur said Manny isn’t interested in an exhibition. pic.twitter.com/8sFgXQpMRC

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) March 30, 2026

Streaming giant Netflix announced last month that the two boxing superstars will go at it again on September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas — more than a decade since they broke boxing box office records with their megabuck showdown in 2015.

Mayweather, however, revealed over the weekend that his second tango with Pacquiao will only be an exhibition fight, meaning the result will not reflect on their pro records.

“As of right now, we don’t know exactly where the fight is going to be at,” said Mayweather, who is undefeated in 50 bouts (with 27 knockouts).

The American bested Pacquiao in their May 2015 duel in Las Vegas, and the latter had since been yearning for a rematch — and wants only an official fight in the pro ranks.

“Mathur said Manny isn’t interested in an exhibition,” Coppinger said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

But Mayweather claims nothing is set in stone, including the venue.

“The Sphere is one of the places that they’ve talked about, so we don’t know if it’s 100% going to be there,” he added.

Mayweather himself is reported to figure in two showcase bouts before facing Pacquiao — one against former heavyweight star Mike Tyson and another against Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis.

Pacquiao, for his part, is eyeing to take the same exhibition route before his big-money clash with Mayweather.

But the Filipino icon’s previously announced showcase fight with former welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov will reportedly not push through with its original scheduled date of April 18, also in Las Vegas.