Former champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Saturday that his proposed September 19 matchup with Manny Pacquiao may not occur at Sphere as initially discussed. He also confirmed the event would proceed as an exhibition rather than a sanctioned boxing contest.
Mayweather spoke with reporters during an autograph signing at an MCM store inside Forum Shops at Caesars Palace. The undefeated boxer acknowledged uncertainty surrounding the venue and the evolving structure of the event.
“We don’t know exactly where the fight is going to be at,” Mayweather said. “We don’t know the location of the fight. The Sphere is one of the places they talked about. But we don’t know if it’s going to be there.”
He added that the nature of the matchup has also changed.
“And this is not actually a fight,” Mayweather said. “It’s an exhibition.”
Earlier reports described the bout as a sanctioned rematch between two of boxing’s most recognizable champions. The event was expected to stream on Netflix, reflecting the growing interest among digital platforms in live sports programming.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. & Manny Pacquiao Rematch With Netflix Uncertain
Mayweather and Pacquiao first met in a highly anticipated contest in 2015 at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The event drew worldwide attention and generated one of the largest gates in boxing history. More than 16,000 spectators attended, producing roughly $72 million in ticket sales.
Mayweather won the bout by unanimous decision, preserving a professional record of 50 victories with 27 knockouts. Pacquiao, an eight-division champion, entered that fight with one of the sport’s most accomplished résumés.
Now nearing 50, Mayweather said exhibition events allow him to remain active while avoiding the strain of traditional competition.
“I’m still extremely healthy,” he said. “I work out every day.”
Mayweather added that several exhibition appearances remain under discussion. These events, he suggested, offer a chance to entertain audiences while continuing his association with the sport.
“If I’m already training every day and spending time with my family,” Mayweather said, “why not go out and entertain people?”
For Mayweather, the exhibitions represent a later chapter in a career that helped shape modern boxing’s commercial landscape.
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