Manny Pacquiao has insisted that his much-anticipated September showdown with Floyd Mayweather will be a professional fight, contradicting the American’s recent comments that it would be an exhibition.
Netflix last month confirmed the rematch, reuniting the boxing icons, both now in their late forties, at the Sphere in Las Vegas on September 19.
Their 2015 bout set records with 4.6 million pay-per-view buys, and anticipation for the return clash has been enormous.
Earlier this week, Mayweather surprised fans by suggesting the fight would be purely for entertainment.
“It’s an exhibition, so we both winners,” he said in an interview with Vegas Sports Today. “We just want to go out there and entertain the people and put on a good show.”
Pacquiao was quick to clarify his stance. “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,” he told AFP.
He emphasized, “I wish to clear up any misinformation regarding my upcoming bout against Floyd Mayweather. From the beginning, my intention has been to give the fans what they truly want to see. A high-level, competitive sanctioned fight.”
Pacquiao also pointed out that Netflix’s announcement in February had “reflected the exact terms of our agreement” and expressed hope that the “original terms of the agreement [would] be honored.”
Adding to the tension, Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, criticized Mayweather’s remarks, declaring to ESPN, “Floyd Mayweather is officially in breach of his contract.”
