Mayweather Confirms Pacquiao Rematch Will Be Exhibition, Not Pro Fight

Boxing legend says he has no plans to end retirement for the highly anticipated second bout.

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:52am

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Floyd Mayweather has walked back his earlier announcement of a professional boxing rematch with Manny Pacquiao, confirming the fight will now be an exhibition match. Mayweather says he has three exhibition bouts lined up in 2026, including the Pacquiao rematch expected to take place at the Las Vegas Sphere on September 19. The longtime rivals fought professionally in 2015, and their second fight will now be a non-competitive exhibition to 'entertain the people' rather than count toward their official records.

Why it matters

Mayweather's decision to make the Pacquiao rematch an exhibition rather than a professional fight is a significant shift, as the two fighters' 2015 bout was one of the most anticipated and lucrative matchups in boxing history. This change in format means the rematch will not impact the fighters' official records, but it could still generate significant interest and revenue as a high-profile exhibition event.

The details

Mayweather told Vegas Sports Today that the Pacquiao rematch venue is still being finalized, but it is expected to take place at the new Las Vegas Sphere arena. Mayweather also revealed he has two other exhibition bouts planned for 2026, including a fight against Mike Tyson. The boxing legend said he is content to continue participating in exhibitions rather than return to professional competition, stating he is happy spending time with his family when not training and performing for audiences.

  • The Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch is expected to take place on September 19, 2026.
  • Mayweather has two other exhibition fights planned for 2026 in addition to the Pacquiao bout.

The players

Floyd Mayweather

A 50-0 boxing legend who retired from professional competition in 2017 but has since participated in several high-profile exhibition bouts.

Manny Pacquiao

A legendary Filipino boxer who fought Mayweather in a professional bout in 2015, and is now set to face him again in an exhibition match.

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What they’re saying

“This is actually not a fight, it's an exhibition. We are gonna do it again and hopefully entertain the people.”

— Floyd Mayweather

“If I'm just sitting at home, working out every day, and spending time with my grandson and spending time with my children, why not go out, have a little fun, entertain, and put on some exhibitions? That's what I'm gonna do.”

— Floyd Mayweather

What’s next

Fans will be eager to see Manny Pacquiao's reaction to Mayweather's announcement that their highly anticipated rematch will now be an exhibition bout rather than a professional fight.

The takeaway

Mayweather's decision to make the Pacquiao rematch an exhibition rather than a professional fight is a surprising shift, as their 2015 bout was one of the biggest events in boxing history. While the rematch will no longer impact the fighters' official records, it could still generate significant interest and revenue as a high-profile exhibition match.