Manila: Philippine boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has clarified that his planned September rematch with Floyd Mayweather will be a professional contest, rejecting claims that the bout is merely an exhibition.
The clarification comes days after Mayweather suggested the fight would be staged purely for entertainment, despite the highly anticipated clash being billed as a rematch of their record-breaking 2015 encounter.
Streaming platform Netflix had announced last month that the two boxing greats, now both in their late forties, are set to meet at the Sphere in Las Vegas on September 19.
However, Mayweather recently described the bout as an exhibition, saying both fighters would aim to “entertain the people” rather than compete under official conditions.
Pacquiao moved swiftly to counter the claim, stressing that the agreement signed by both camps clearly stipulates a sanctioned professional fight.
“I want to be very clear that the contract we signed is for a professional boxing match. This is not an exhibition; it is a real fight,” Pacquiao said in a statement.
The former world champion added that his intention from the outset had been to deliver a competitive contest for fans, emphasising that the terms outlined during the initial announcement remain binding.
Pacquiao also noted that Netflix’s earlier announcement accurately reflected the agreement, and expressed confidence that all parties would honour the original terms.
Tensions escalated further after Jas Mathur, chief executive of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, criticised Mayweather’s remarks, claiming the American fighter had breached the contract.
The potential rematch has already generated significant global interest, given the pair’s historic 2015 bout, which remains the highest-grossing fight in boxing history with 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.
