Event organizers slapped Floyd Mayweather with a Tuesday deadline to resolve his dispute with Manny Pacquiao over an apparent contracted rematch to take place September at The Sphere in Las Vegas.<\/p>\n
The pair shook up the world earlier this year when Netflix confirmed a second fight for 2026 \u2014 11 years after their first throw hands, arguably more than five years too late, in a drab decision win. But with the American defensive wizard\u2019s activity on the exhibition circuit, and the Filipino fighting icon\u2019s success at world welterweight, a do-over was agreed for one of the most technically-impressive arenas in the entire US.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fans have waited long enough \u2014 they deserve this rematch, and it will be even bigger now that it will be streamed live globally on Netflix,\u201d said Pacquiao, in a statement sent to Boxing Social in February. <\/p>\n
\u201cI want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him.\u201d <\/p>\n
\u2014 Manny Pacquiao<\/p>\n
Mayweather, meanwhile, said at that time: \u201cI already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result.\u201d<\/p>\n
Over time, though, his messaging changed, as he intimated the event was nothing more than an exhibition, and The Sphere wasn\u2019t the guaranteed venue. either.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s not what we signed,\u201d Pacquiao said on Monday\u2019s episode of Inside The Ring: We signed for a real fight. He got his advance. Why is he announcing this propaganda exhibition?<\/p>\n
\u201cFor me, he cannot get out of his contract because he is going to face a lot of consequences if he doesn\u2019t fight and fails his commitment.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cI think he\u2019s scared of losing,\u201d Pacquiao said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s his leverage, to go around and have exhibitions because of his undefeated record. If that record will be ruined, what else will he be able to leverage?\u201d<\/p>\n
Alan Dawson is Boxing Social’s editor.
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\nHe is also a columnist for Uncrowned at Yahoo Sports, and the founder-moderator of Boxing Twitter \u2014 a 20,000-strong community on X.
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\nA 17-year sports media veteran, Alan has enjoyed extensive stints at Business Insider as a correspondent, BT Sport as digital editor, and Give Me Sport as combat sports editor.
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\nHe is a 2-time Sports Journalist of the Year finalist and has been honored six times by the Boxing Writers Association of America.
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\nAlan grew up near London but is based in Nevada with his young family. Outside boxing he plays 8-handicap golf, hikes, and rides his ebike through the Sierra mountain trails.<\/p>\n