Pacquiao: Mayweather scared of losing
MANILA, Philippines — Floyd Mayweather Jr. simply does not want that “0” to go.
Manny Pacquiao firmly believes that is the main reason why his rival prefers an exhibition over a real fight between them, more than a decade after they first faced each other.
Speaking on the Ring Magazine’s online talk show Inside The Ring, Pacquiao did not mince words as to what he thinks is Mayweather’s state of mind for putting the brakes on their recently announced rematch in September this year.
????? “He’s scared of losing.”
— InsideRingShow (@InsideRingShow) April 13, 2026
Manny Pacquiao doesn’t hold back on why he thinks Floyd Mayweather isn’t interested in a professional rematch ????#InsideTheRing | Latest episode available on DAZN ???? pic.twitter.com/0z3uT0dZmf
“I think he’s scared of losing. Because that’s his leverage to go around and have exhibitions, because of his undefeated record,” Pacquiao said bluntly.
Mayweather stirred things up when, at a recent public appearance, he claimed the Netflix-announced rematch between him and Pacquiao — penciled for September 18 at The Sphere in Las Vegas — will only be a showcase bout.
That means the American boxing star does not have to put his immaculate 50-0 record on the line.
“If that record is ruined, then what else that he can leverage for to go around and have an exhibition match?” Pacquiao added.
Mayweather, whose last pro fight was in 2017, has since dabbled in the lucrative fight exhibition game. He figured in a handful of them around the world — from Japan to the United Arab Emirates to the United Kingdom.
Pacquiao too is no stranger to exhibition fights and has starred in a couple of them.
But against Mayweather the second time around, the Filipino icon insists it should be a real fight in the pro ranks.
The two made boxing history in 2015 when their duel went down as the richest fight ever, with Mayweather scoring a unanimous decision.
Since then, Pacquiao has been craving for a chance to get even.
He had been saying that Mayweather signed on for a real fight.
For his part, Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, who was with Pacquiao at the talk show, said a “hard deadline” has been set for both camps to resolve things.
“Tomorrow. The 14th, end of business day,” said Mathur.
“Listen, we’re getting ahead. As long as he (Mayweather)’s got smart people around him that can see the size of the opportunity, they can make him a lot of money. More money than he’s made in any in the last five years.
“I guess, look, that’s not in directly in our hands or in my hands to speak on. There’s many parties involved, but all I can say is we are making a headway on it. There is a contract in place, you know, I think a better sense will prevail here. We hope it will.”
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