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Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Rematch in Doubt, Could Shift to Exhibition

Originally posted on Dice City Sports | By Robert LaMar | Last updated Mar 28, 2026 10:24 PM ET

What was supposed to be one of boxing’s biggest rematches is suddenly surrounded by uncertainty. Floyd Mayweather has cast doubt on his highly anticipated showdown with Manny Pacquiao, suggesting the bout may not be a professional fight and may not even take place at its originally planned venue.

Originally scheduled for September 19 at Sphere, the rematch was expected to be a blockbuster follow-up to their historic 2015 clash. But Mayweather now says plans are far from finalized.

“As of right now, we don’t know exactly where the fight is going to be at,” Mayweather said. “And this is not actually a fight, it’s an exhibition.” That statement directly contradicts earlier announcements including a February reveal tied to a major broadcast rollout.

Image | Source: Dice City Sports
Floyd Mayweather says his fight with Manny Pacquiao will be an exhibition, not a professional bout, and that the Sphere isn’t 100% confirmed as the location yet
Image | Source: Dice City Sports

“This is actually not a fight, it’s a exhibition. You know I got an exhibition with Mike Tyson also.”

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… pic.twitter.com/PLswMqjlAU
— Source of Boxing (@Sourceofboxing) March 28, 2026

Conflict With Pacquiao’s Camp

The uncertainty doesn’t stop there. Pacquiao’s team has previously made it clear: They are only interested in a sanctioned professional fight. That creates a major disconnect between the two sides one that could ultimately derail the event altogether. Pacquiao, 47, recently returned to action with a majority draw against Mario Barrios, signaling he’s still competing seriously not just for exhibition purposes.

At 49, Mayweather remains active, but largely in exhibitions. He revealed additional plans that only add to the confusion:

Potential exhibition vs. Mike Tyson (no date or location confirmed)
Another exhibition vs. Mike Zambidis in Athens (details unclear)

None of these events currently have finalized logistics. The Sphere was expected to host the rematch a venue built for spectacle and perfectly suited for a global boxing event. Now, even that is uncertain. If the fight moves away from the Sphere, it would represent a major shift in both presentation and scale.

This article first appeared on Dice City Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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