{"id":596500,"date":"2026-04-09T21:31:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-09T21:31:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/596500\/"},"modified":"2026-04-09T21:31:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-09T21:31:08","slug":"manny-pacquiao-buys-floyd-mayweathers-old-gym-amid-rematch-drama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/596500\/","title":{"rendered":"Manny Pacquiao buys Floyd Mayweather’s old gym amid rematch drama"},"content":{"rendered":"

LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 Manny Pacquiao<\/a> let the setting speak before he said a word.<\/p>\n

Inside a boxing gym once tied to Floyd Mayweather Jr.<\/a> in the heart of Hollywood, Pacquiao walked past a partially finished ring, pointing toward future placements for heavy bags and glancing at a larger-than-life image of his rival that will soon be taken down. The space, which is set to open this summer, already carries its new identity: Pacquiao Prime Boxing.<\/p>\n

The timing adds another layer.<\/p>\n

Pacquiao and Mayweather are set to meet again<\/a> Sept. 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, a rematch more than a decade after their record-setting 2015 bout. In recent days, attention around the fight has centered on how it will be presented, with Mayweather describing it as an exhibition<\/a> while Pacquiao points to the terms he agreed to.<\/p>\n

Representatives for Mayweather did not respond to requests for comment.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe knows what he signed,\u201d Pacquiao said in an interview with The Associated Press this week, offering a steady, matter-of-fact view as he continues preparation for the bout. It comes down to principle for the Filipino boxer, who ended his own four-year retirement<\/a> last year. The 49-year-old undefeated Mayweather returns after retiring<\/a> nine years ago.<\/p>\n

\u201cDignity. Integrity,\u201d Pacquiao, 47, said. \u201cThat\u2019s what matters.\u201d<\/p>\n

How Pacquiao\u2019s team is responding to the contract dispute<\/p>\n

Behind the scenes, the focus has shifted from how the fight is being described to how it moves forward.<\/p>\n

Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions and a producer on the event, said the bout is anchored by multiple signed agreements, and that those terms remain clear. He said Mayweather was well aware <\/p>\n

\u201cNot one, not two, but three different agreements,\u201d Mathur said. \u201cHe signed all of them.\u201d<\/p>\n

According to Mathur, those agreements outline a professional fight, not an exhibition, and include financial commitments already in motion. His comments come amid broader questions surrounding Mayweather\u2019s plans, including previously reported bouts with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson<\/a> and against kickboxer Mike Zambidis \u2014 which could complicate the agreement.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe took an advance on his purse,\u201d Mathur said. \u201cEverything is black and white.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mathur described the situation as a breach of contract, pointing to public comments that differ from the signed terms. He added that the matter is now being handled through legal channels as both sides work toward a resolution.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are consequences that come with that,\u201d Mathur said.<\/p>\n

Pacquiao\u2019s focus remains steady. But for him, the situation comes down to clarity and commitment.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat we signed is a real fight,\u201d he said. \u201cI know that he knows what he signed. … We signed both, and I hope he honors it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pacquiao takes a jab at Mayweather with legacy in mind<\/p>\n

When asked what it would signal if the bout does not move forward as planned, Mathur did not hesitate.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s a chicken,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Standing beside him, Pacquiao responded in his own way, letting out a brief \u201cbawk, bawk, bawk\u201d while flapping his arms, drawing laughter from both. <\/p>\n

Beyond the immediate stakes of the fight, Pacquiao also addressed the broader conversation surrounding legacy, including how greatness is defined in boxing. It\u2019s a discussion that has long included both him and Mayweather.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t even claim myself as the greatest,\u201d said Pacquiao, who noted he\u2019s the only fighter to win titles across four decades. \u201cI let the people say who is the greatest.\u201d<\/p>\n

Why take over Mayweather\u2019s gym, and why now?<\/p>\n

Taking over a space once associated with Mayweather, especially in the lead-up to a high-profile rematch, carries a natural layer of symbolism. But Pacquiao and his team framed the decision through a different lens.<\/p>\n

While standing in front of Mayweather\u2019s image \u2014 one that will soon be replaced \u2014 Pacquiao described a new direction for the space as one centered on performance rather than accessibility.<\/p>\n

The facility will operate as a private training center for professional fighters, athletes and select guests. There are plans to expand the model across major markets.<\/p>\n

Mathur pointed to location and visibility as key drivers behind the decision, noting the volume of daily traffic through the Hollywood corridor. At the same time, he suggested the opportunity reflects a broader shift in approach tied to the previous business connected to Mayweather\u2019s brand.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere was a chance to build something much bigger,\u201d Mathur said. \u201cWe\u2019re looking at this differently.\u201d<\/p>\n

Pacquiao said he wants to create opportunities for the next generation of fighters while expanding his footprint in the sport.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is our passion,\u201d he said. \u201cTo build more boxing gyms and help develop fighters.\u201d<\/p>\n

How Pacquiao is building beyond the ring<\/p>\n

Beyond the fight, Pacquiao and his team are building with a broader vision in mind.<\/p>\n

From fighter development under Manny Pacquiao Promotions to new training hubs through the Hollywood gym, the focus extends well past the ring.<\/p>\n

Mathur, who partners with Pacquiao across multiple ventures, described a strategy centered on long-term growth, including efforts to bring Pacquiao\u2019s established business footprint from Asia into the United States and beyond.<\/p>\n

\u201cManny is actively involved,\u201d Mathur said. \u201cThis is about building something bigger.\u201d<\/p>\n

That vision also includes ventures in financial technology, highlighted by Manny Pay \u2014 a digital wallet platform the team is working to expand internationally \u2014 along with media and consumer products tied to Pacquiao\u2019s global reach.<\/p>\n

In a space being rebuilt for what comes next, Pacquiao is moving forward with focus. He said the balance between business and boxing remains clear.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth,\u201d he said, when asked what drives him now. \u201cWe\u2019re focused on this fight, and building our own businesses.\u201d<\/p>\n

___<\/p>\n

AP Boxing: https:\/\/apnews.com\/hub\/boxing<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"LOS ANGELES (AP) \u2014 Manny Pacquiao let the setting speak before he said a word. Inside a boxing…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":596501,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[571],"tags":[1724,64,63,802,485,134,26700,55599,1973,2623,2795,291176,8199,291177,85,291175],"class_list":{"0":"post-596500","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-boxing","8":"tag-asia","9":"tag-au","10":"tag-australia","11":"tag-boxing","12":"tag-california","13":"tag-entertainment","14":"tag-floyd-mayweather","15":"tag-floyd-mayweather-jr","16":"tag-hollywood","17":"tag-las-vegas","18":"tag-manny-pacquiao","19":"tag-manny-pay","20":"tag-mike-tyson","21":"tag-mike-zambidis","22":"tag-sports","23":"tag-sports-retirements"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596500","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=596500"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/596500\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/596501"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=596500"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=596500"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=596500"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}