Requested about Mayweather’s latest feedback suggesting the September 19 bout may very well be handled as an exhibition, Pacquiao pointed again to the settlement already in place and dismissed the concept outright.
“No exhibition,” Pacquiao mentioned to Fighthype. “It’s both an actual combat or nothing. It’s an actual combat.”
Pacquiao mentioned the phrases have been already established when either side signed, leaving no room to regulate the construction of the occasion at this stage. The combat is scheduled for Las Vegas and has been constructed round a sanctioned contest relatively than a non-competitive exhibition format.
“The contract we signed is an actual combat,” Pacquiao mentioned. “So it’s for positive.”
He added that he expects the rematch to proceed below these authentic phrases, regardless of the uncertainty created by Mayweather’s latest remarks. Pacquiao didn’t supply any various choices if the state of affairs modifications, conserving his deal with the settlement already in place.
“I don’t know,” Pacquiao mentioned when requested about potential backup plans. “What I signed is an actual combat.”
Pacquiao has lengthy pursued a second combat with Mayweather following their 2015 assembly, and indicated that his strategy this time will probably be completely different.
“I’ve improved and higher technique in comparison with the final one,” he mentioned.
This appears to be like like a traditional case of a fighter wanting to guard his excellent 50-0 report. Floyd is almost 50 years outdated, and regardless of his legendary defensive abilities, an expert combat carries the danger of a “1” lastly showing on his resume, particularly towards somebody as relentless as Pacquiao.
By calling it an exhibition now, Floyd primarily creates a security internet the place he can receives a commission with out the stakes. Manny’s workforce (MP Promotions) are adamant that the contract signed in February is for a sanctioned skilled bout.
Just some days in the past (March 28), Floyd publicly backtracked throughout a meet-and-greet, claiming it’s an exhibition and that the venue (The Sphere) isn’t even 100% locked in.
Netflix has already marketed this as an expert occasion. If it shifts to an exhibition, they lose an enormous quantity of the “historic significance” they’re utilizing to promote the stream.
