by Julienne Okisho
Mayweather-Pacquiao Rematch Shelved Indefinitely Amid Legal Fights and Money Issues
The long-talked-about rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is off for now. Pacquiao’s team in the Philippines confirmed Friday that the fight has been postponed indefinitely.
The delay comes after a chain of legal and business problems around Mayweather’s camp. Pacquiao’s camp blamed “a volatile mix of federal lawsuits, scheduling overbooks, and financial gridlock completely surrounding the Mayweather camp.”
The issues spilled into public view this week when events company CSI sued Mayweather. CSI says it paid at least $4.65 million for exclusive rights to promote both a Pacquiao rematch and a separate exhibition with Mike Tyson that never happened.
A planned Mayweather exhibition against Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis, set for Saturday in Athens, was also called off. ESPN reported the cancellation after CSI sought an injunction tied to the Pacquiao deal.
Pacquiao’s team now says the earliest a Mayweather rematch could happen is early 2027. If Mayweather and CSI settle out of court, the focus will shift to rescheduling a Mayweather vs Mike Tyson exhibition for September 12.
Mayweather and Pacquiao first fought in 2015 in what remains boxing’s biggest pay-per-view event, with 4.6 million buys. A rematch was announced for September on Netflix, but the two sides clashed over format. Mayweather said it would be an exhibition only, a move Pacquiao’s side rejected.
Mayweather, 49, retired in 2017 with a 50-0 record. The shelved bout would have been a rematch of the highest-grossing fight in boxing history. For now, fans will have to wait.
