Over the weekend, Floyd Mayweather Jr. raised uncertainty about his announced rematch with Manny Pacquiao. But the fight is locked in.
The contract for the fight has been signed, a source close to the event told Front Office Sports. The fight will take place at the Sphere in Las Vegas and will be an official fight, not an exhibition.
Ring Magazine first reported this week that Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur said the fight’s details are set. Netflix announced in February that the fight between Mayweather, 49, and Pacquiao, 47, was confirmed for Sept. 19 at the Sphere, the first boxing match at the popular concert venue.
But Mayweather’s comments at a meet-and-greet Saturday contradicted the announcement, saying the location of the fight was uncertain. The undefeated fighter also said the fight would not be an official match.
“This is not actually a fight, it’s an exhibition,” Mayweather said. “So we’re going to do it again and hopefully we’re going to entertain the people.”
Mayweather has fought in several exhibition matches since retiring in 2017. He announced in February, alongside CSI Sports/Fight Sports, that he would make his official return in the summer.
Last year, Mayweather announced he’d agreed to an exhibition fight against Mike Tyson in April in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His official return to boxing was supposed to be his next fight after the Tyson match. But in March, Mayweather announced he was adding another exhibition in June, against retired kickboxer Mike Zambidis in Greece.
Boxing journalist Dan Rafael reported earlier this month that the exhibition against Tyson had been moved to a later date, and may be moved out of Congo.
Mayweather said Saturday he has two more exhibitions coming up, but did not confirm the timing of either.
“I got an exhibition with Mike Tyson also, another exhibition in Greece,” Mayweather said. “If I’m just sitting at home and I’m just working out every day spending time with my grandson and spending time with my children, I said, ‘Why not go out, have a little fun, and entertain and put up some exhibitions?’”
