Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao 2 Contract Dispute Explained

Mayweather Claims Fight is an Exhibition

The controversy started when Mayweather told Vegas Sports Today last week that the details of the rematch were not set in stone. Mayweather explicitly labeled the bout an exhibition, suggesting the location at the Sphere in Las Vegas was still undecided:

“This is not actually a fight, it's an exhibition,” Mayweather said during that interview. “Hopefully, we're going to entertain the people.”

Mayweather also claimed that the venue for the fight has not been decided yet, despite the fight poster officially posted by Netflix on social media accounts showing that the fight will take place in the Las Vegas Sphere.

"As of right now, we don't know exactly where the fight is going to be," he told reporters. "We don't know the location of the fight."

Pacquiao, however, insists the paperwork tells a different story and that Mayweather is bound by a legally enforceable agreement. The Filipino icon stressed he has zero interest in stepping into the ring for a mere exhibition spectacle.

Pacquiao Wants a Real Fight

In an interview with boxing insider Jhay Oh Otamias, Pacquiao gave his response and reaction to Mayweather’s claims:

When asked if he saw Floyd Mayweather’s quote, Pacquiao seemed slightly confused, answering, “Is that what he’s feeling? But he signed for a real fight. The contract that we signed is a real fight.”

“I wouldn’t fight an exhibition,” Pacquiao told reporters bluntly. “It’s a real fight.”

The Filipino believes his undefeated rival is trying to create complacency in his preparation (via Jay Oh Tamias on Instagram):

“He has his own strategy, maybe he thinks I’m going to take him lightly,” Pacquiao speculated. “I think (he wants) to make me easy, like the way I prepare, the way I prepare, train.” 

The 47-year-old Pacquiao suspects Mayweather’s exhibition narrative is a form of mind games rather than a genuine misunderstanding of their contract.

Floyd Mayweather Breach of Contract Claims

The situation has since escalated dramatically when Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, accused Mayweather of violating their contract. Mathur revealed in an interview with Andreas Hale of ESPN that Mayweather has already accepted an advance for the September date:

“Floyd Mayweather is officially in breach of his contract,” Mathur declared to Hale. “He’s been in a breach since the day he went out and said what he said.”

Mathur detailed that Mayweather signed multiple agreements across three separate dates in late 2025, all intertwined regarding his return to professional boxing. He further claimed that Mayweather received money for those agreements and even took an advance on his purse for the Pacquiao rematch.

“As of right now, the fight is still on,” Mathur assured. “There is no termination of any sort, and he has signed for a professional fight.”

Pacquiao remains singularly focused on avenging his 2015 unanimous decision loss, a fight that still stands as the highest-grossing in boxing history with 4.6 million pay-per-view buys. The boxer has already commenced light training and confirmed he will reunite with legendary trainer Freddie Roach in Los Angeles.