Manny Pacquiao stated he is "100 percent confident" his rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. is scheduled for September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Mayweather had recently described the event as an exhibition, a characterization Pacquiao disputes.
"What we signed was a real fight, not an exhibition," Pacquiao told ESPN. "I don't know where he got this idea from... but the fight is a real fight, and it absolutely won't be an exhibition."
The pair initially fought in 2015, drawing over 4.5 million pay-per-view buys. Now aged 48 and 47 respectively, they are set for the first professional boxing match at The Sphere.
"We both signed the contract and we both got our advance on our purses, so there's no way we're going to cancel this fight," Pacquiao confirmed.
Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, indicated Mayweather's comments were a breach of contract but expressed optimism. "We are 100 percent confident that the overall outcome from this situation will turn out positive," Mathur said. "We're gaining progress and traction."
Pacquiao, boxing's only eight-division world champion, retired in 2021. Mayweather, with a 50-0 career record, last competed professionally in 2017.