The highly anticipated rematch between boxing legends Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao has been postponed indefinitely. Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur confirmed the news in an interview with Ring Magazine, stating the fight, originally planned to be globally streamed on Netflix for Sept. 19 and later rescheduled to Sept. 25, will not proceed.
According to Mathur, the postponement is a result of “a volatile mix of federal lawsuits, scheduling overbooks, and financial gridlock surrounding Mayweather’s camp.”
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Legal Disputes In the Way
The core of the issue lies in a legal battle with multimedia firm CSI Sports.
CSI sued Mayweather, alleging he breached a contract that gave them exclusive promotional rights to his fights against Pacquiao and Mike Tyson. The company claims it paid Mayweather $4.65 million in advance for these rights.
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The lawsuit contends that Mayweather violated the agreement by pursuing a separate exhibition bout against Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis. This planned event in Athens was ultimately cancelled after CSI filed for an emergency injunction, though Zambidis and the event’s promoter, Front Row, maintain that the fight will take place at a later date.
The legal action has effectively frozen Mayweather’s boxing activities.
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In court documents, CSI has filed a motion to prevent Mayweather from entering into any new contracts before fulfilling his obligations to them. This includes a proposed exhibition against Mike Tyson, which would now take priority.
Further complicating matters for Mayweather, he faces two felony charges in Nevada. The charges are related to an allegation that he used a bad check to purchase a luxury watch valued at over $200,000. His legal team has characterized the matter as a civil dispute.
Adding to his legal woes, Mayweather has also initiated his own lawsuits. He has filed a $175 million lawsuit against his real estate adviser Ayal Frist, and former investment manager Jona Rechnitz, as well as a $340 million lawsuit against Showtime Networks and former executives. These suits allege financial misconduct and wrongdoing.
Pacquiao Mayweather Rematch Possibility
The two legends have been at odds over the very nature of their proposed bout, with contract disputes between the two camps dominating the rematch’s narrative.
While Pacquiao insisted the rematch be a sanctioned professional fight, Mayweather at times suggested it would be an exhibition. Pacquiao claims the contract he signed was for a real fight, a point that the Filipino boxer has strongly emphasized.
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With the rematch shelved, the Pacquiao camp is now exploring alternative options. Mathur stated they are “looking at different options” for Pacquiao to fight in September. However, they remain cautious, wanting the “right opportunity with the right partners.”
The postponement is another dramatic chapter in a rivalry that began with their 2015 mega-fight. That bout shattered pay-per-view records with 4.6 million buys, becoming the highest-grossing fight in boxing history.
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For now, the prospect of a second showdown remains a distant hope. With lawsuits, contract disputes, and legal charges piling up in the Mayweather camp, the fight has been pushed into the distance. Fans will have to wait much longer to see if these two icons ever share the ring again.