Floyd Mayweather may have to put his unbeaten 50-0 record on the line after a claim surfaced that he accepted a cash advance tied to the proposed Manny Pacquiao rematch.
The revelation arrived amid growing uncertainty surrounding the planned September 19 event in Las Vegas, which Pacquiao’s camp says was agreed as a sanctioned professional contest rather than the exhibition Mayweather recently suggested.
During an appearance in Las Vegas last month, Mayweather indicated the fight might ultimately take place as an exhibition and that the venue had not yet been finalized.
Those comments quickly drew a response from Manny Pacquiao Promotions Jas Mathur, who maintains the agreement signed by Mayweather covers a fully sanctioned bout.
Mathur told ESPN that multiple agreements were executed late last year relating to Mayweather’s return to professional boxing against Pacquiao. According to Mathur, Mayweather received payments when those contracts were signed and has also taken an advance on his purse connected to the rematch.
The advance claim adds fresh uncertainty to a fight already surrounded by questions. As WBN reported when doubts first emerged about whether the bout would be contested as a professional fight, Pacquiao’s camp has insisted from the beginning that the agreement centers on a sanctioned contest rather than an exhibition.
Cash advance claim
The saga raises new questions about a fight announced earlier this year as a professional return for Mayweather and a chance for Pacquiao to avenge his controversial 2015 defeat.
If Pacquiao’s camp attempts to enforce the agreement through legal channels, the dispute could place Mayweather’s long-protected 50-0 record firmly back into focus.
The undefeated mark has defined Mayweather’s legacy since he retired from professional competition after defeating Conor McGregor in 2017.
That undefeated status has long been a key part of the rematch discussion and is crucial for the historical stakes attached to the event.
On the surface, Mayweather appears to be having second thoughts about stepping into a sanctioned contest at the age of 49 against a rival who has pursued revenge for nearly a decade.
Add the reported purse advance to the equation and plenty still needs resolving before any punches are thrown, professional or exhibition.
April Fools confusion
Another twist arrived on April Fools’ Day when long-running boxing video outlet FightHype, a platform that has carried Mayweather exclusives for years, claimed the rematch had been canceled.
The outlet initially suggested it would elaborate once April 1 had passed, prompting speculation that the report could be an April Fools’ prank. However, several hours later FightHype reiterated the claim and stated the story was not made in jest.
Whatever the outcome, Mayweather once again finds himself at the center of uncertainty surrounding a major event.
If Pacquiao’s team pushes the matter further, the contractual dispute could ultimately force the issue of whether the rematch proceeds as a professional fight — and whether Mayweather’s famous 50-0 record must finally be put on the line again.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the Editor-in-Chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a veteran boxing reporter with 15+ years of experience. He has interviewed world champions, broken international exclusives, and reported ringside since 2010. Read full bio.
