Floyd Mayweather Jr. Rethinks Boxing Return
About a month ago, Floyd Mayweather Jr. seemed poised to break nearly a decade of retirement with a boxing rematch against Manny Pacquiao, slated for September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
Now, however, his confidence appears shaken.
During a handshake event at the MCM Store in Caesars Palace, Mayweather raised some questions about the planned rematch, indicating that it may just be an exhibition and possibly won’t happen at the anticipated venue.
“Right now, we don’t know exactly how the fight is going to go,” Mayweather stated regarding the rematch, which followed their highly publicized 2015 encounter that didn’t quite live up to the hype. “We don’t know the location of the battle. Sphere is one of the locations they talked about,” he noted. “So I don’t know if I’m going to win 100%. And this isn’t really a fight. It’s an exhibition.”
This new outlook seems at odds with Netflix’s February announcement and a press release from his camp, both indicating that he was making a comeback with a multi-fight deal with CSI Sports/Fight Sports.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao and his team, who returned from retirement last summer to draw with Mario Barrios, are firm that any meeting with Mayweather should be a sanctioned professional bout.
Mayweather also mentioned his intention to participate in a previously announced exhibition with heavyweight legend Mike Tyson, although specifics like timing and broadcasting details remain unclear.
Additionally, he has committed to another exhibition in Athens with Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis in June, though further information about that event is pending.
Despite initial enthusiasm, the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight—and the idea of Mayweather returning to the ring—seems to be drifting into the realm of “what could have been?”
“This is an exhibition, so we’re both winners,” Mayweather emphasized, making it clear that the rematch with Pacquiao isn’t a professional fight. “So we just want to get out there and entertain people and put on a good show.”
