In addition to promoting the match, two pressing topics Mayweather addressed were his planned fight against Manny Pacquiao and a recent run of unfavorable headlines suggesting he\u2019s in financial trouble.<\/p>\n
Mayweather, 49, announced his professional comeback<\/a> following a nine-year retirement February 20, and three days later, Netflix announced that he\u2019d be facing Pacquiao in a rematch September 19 at Sphere in Las Vegas.However, the fight has been on the ropes ever since Mayweather said on March 28 that the meeting was an exhibition<\/a> and not a sanctioned fight, and that the location was up in the air.<\/p>\n \u201cAt this particular time, I truly believe that, you know, everybody is gonna want to ask questions about the Pacquiao fight,\u201d said Mayweather.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have a lot of new companies, a lot of new faces, and Netflix, I truly believe that we’ll get this done. I think we’re almost at the finish line to finish the Pacquiao fight. Eventually, I think within the next 48 hours, the Pacquiao fight should be done.\u201d<\/p>\n Exactly when and where the fight will be staged remains to be seen. On Monday, it was announced that the rock band Eagles will now occupy the Sphere on September 19.<\/p>\n After both fighters had already received advance payments, Pacquiao and his team said on the April 13 episode of Inside The Ring that neither the Filipino icon nor Netflix was interested in an exhibition, and that the self-proclaimed GOAT Mayweather was afraid of losing as an April 14 deadline loomed to salvage the fight.<\/p>\n Mayweather then talked generally in regard to how he\u2019s been in constant headlines of late, especially as reports suggest that he\u2019s in financial trouble after earning an estimated $1.15 billion during his undefeated Hall of Fame career.<\/p>\n The IRS filed a $7.3 million lien against Mayweather in March for unpaid taxes in 2018 and 2023. In February, Mayweather sued former broadcast partner Showtime, alleging $340 million in misappropriated funds. Mayweather is also the defendant for several complaints alleging unpaid tabs for jewelry, luxury apartment rentals and private jet services.<\/p>\n On Tuesday, Mayweather dropped a $100 million defamation lawsuit against Business Insider.<\/p>\n \u201cI just want to say thank you to the media,\u201d said Mayweather. \u201cEven though I’m not really on social media, because most of the time I’m at home spending time building generational wealth, helping my children, helping my grandson.<\/p>\n \u201cBut just to be able to stay relevant, a part of it is the media. Whether you write a good story or a bad story, you’re keeping me relevant. When you keep a guy relevant, the money still flows in. So thank you.<\/p>\n \u201cNegative stories always go a lot further than positive stories. A lie will always go further than the truth. My whole goal is to always stay positive, continue to work hard, and continue to push the next generation to be great, teach them the way, and show them how they should move.\u201d<\/p>\n Mayweather then moved on to build buzz for his exhibition abroad against Zambidis, one week after it was revealed that the IRS had notified Mayweather of its intention to revoke his United States passport.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s great to be able to travel the world, display my skills, and let the people see my artwork, entertain them, and give the people what they want to see, and that’s excitement,\u201d said Mayweather.<\/p>\n \u201cWhether it\u2019s an exhibition or a real competition in a sanctioned fight, people still want to be entertained. I took care of my body, and I took my career seriously so that I’m still able to compete 30 years later.<\/p>\n \u201cMy job is to go out there and do what I do best.\u201d<\/p>\n Mayweather plans to have an active 2026, including an announced exhibition against Mike Tyson in the Congo. But the originally planned date for April has passed, and very few details have been revealed in recent months.<\/p>\n The event currently stands without a confirmed date, and Mayweather did not address the Tyson event on Thursday.<\/p>\n Manouk Akopyan is The Ring\u2019s lead writer. Follow him on X<\/a> and Instagram<\/a>: @ManoukAkopyan.<\/p>\n