Floyd Mayweather appears to have missed out on a lucrative payday in his potential rematch against Manny Pacquiao. The undefeated five-division champion recently stirred drama by claiming that the bout was never meant to be a professional fight. Instead, he suggested it was merely an exhibition, adding that the Sphere in Las Vegas might not even serve as the venue. This directly contradicts earlier announcements from Netflix about the September 19 fight.

The streaming giant had officially stated that the fight would be a professional contest, set to take place at the Sphere and broadcast live on its platform. Veteran journalist Mike Coppinger cited a statement from Manny Pacquiao Promotions CEO Jas Mathur, who clarified that the fight is indeed a professional bout, as stipulated in the contract signed by both fighters. Now, to add to the ruckus, there’s a disappointing update.

“Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 is CANCELLED,” Fight Hype reported on X. 

The outlet noted that further details surrounding the cancellation are expected to emerge. However, recent comments from both sides already seem to point toward what may have gone wrong.

It’s also worth noting that the proposed bout with Manny Pacquiao is not the only fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. is expected to be involved in.

According to reports, Mayweather has also booked an exhibition against heavyweight legend Mike Tyson on April 25, 2026, in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Besides that, ‘Money’ is also expected to face Greek kickboxing legend Mike ‘Iron’ Zambidis in an exhibition on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao didn’t appear to have anything else planned for this year. 

Pacquiao, who lost the 2015 fight to Mayweather via a disappointing unanimous decision, came back to professional boxing nearly four years after hanging up the gloves. He took on Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title in June last year, but the fight ended with a majority decision draw. Regardless, the situation could be particularly damaging for Floyd Mayweather, who is said to be facing financial difficulties.

A Business Insider report from a few months ago exposed his dire situation. Contrary to his claims from years ago that he was ‘financially set,’ Mayweather is apparently in mounting debt, after taking millions in mortgages on his properties. Lawsuits and liens over unpaid dues on his G-Wagon, jet fuel costs, and even the garbage collection at his Vegas mansion add to the worry.

The BI report also questioned Mayweather’s claims of investing over $400M in luxury apartments in Upper Manhattan. Further, it claimed Go Partners absorbed the ‘nominal’ amount he had invested in their property. He reportedly pledged his jet, his strip club, and fourteen residential properties for a $54M loan, which, if he fails to repay, will result in the seizure of all of these properties as a collective unit.

To add to the situation, Mayweather recently made comments about potentially owning an NBA team, remarks that some believe only further fuel the ongoing claims about his financial struggles.

Reports of financial trouble gain steam after Floyd Mayweather’s U-Turn on buying NBA team

Mayweather has long expressed his ambition of exploring ownership in a potential NBA expansion team in Las Vegas since 2022. Despite his strong interest, the undefeated champion now admits the reality of ownership has given him pause during an autograph signing at the MCM retail store at the Forum Shops of Caesars Palace. 

“In the past, I talked about owning an NBA team, but it looks like it’s a lot of stress in the NBA being an owner,” Mayweather said. “You see an owner get involved with the NBA, and he’s looking happy. Then, as the years progress, he’s looking older. So, I don’t know.”

While hesitant about involvement, Mayweather still sees value in the league’s growth, especially with expansion fees reportedly reaching $7–10 billion. 

“The only thing numbers can do is go up,” he noted. 

When veteran boxing journalist Dan Rafael found out about Mayweather’s decision to walk back his ambition, he was quick to come up with the reason behind it. 

“Because he can’t afford it,” Rafael claimed.

This just further amplified rumors that Mayweather is indeed facing financial trouble. 

It appears that after Floyd Mayweather gave up on owning an NBA team, he had to say goodbye to the long-awaited rematch with Manny Pacquiao, which would have been very lucrative for him.