Boxing fans were left disappointed after the highly anticipated rematch between legends Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., dubbed the potential “Battle of the Century” sequel, was postponed. While no official reason was provided for the delay, Pacquiao’s team has already shifted its focus toward securing another bout for the Filipino boxing icon before the end of the year.
MP Promotions Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Jas Mathur revealed on Monday, July 13, that Pacquiao remains on track to return to the ring in the fourth quarter of 2026, with an exhibition fight currently being explored as a possible option while discussions continue with potential opponents.
Speaking during a press conference at the Wilcon IT Hub in Makati City, Mathur said Pacquiao’s camp is actively working on several possible matchups but emphasized that no opponent has been finalized.
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“We are focused more on what’s in front of us now. We are working on a few different fights right now for him. Presently there’s likely going to be an exhibition that we are trying to put together in the fourth quarter of this year. Nobody is set, no opponent is set in stone yet. We are still working on that,” Mathur said.
The announcement comes after plans for Pacquiao and Mayweather to meet again in September were put on hold. According to Mathur, both camps are now targeting a possible January date for the long-awaited rematch, although several contractual matters still need to be resolved before the fight can move forward.
“The Floyd fight that everybody wants to know about, that fight is being postponed. Right now, the new tentative date that we have is going to be January. But there’s still other technicalities that need to be addressed before, based on other contractual obligations that Floyd has. So those need to be met in order for this to happen. It was a little bit of a mess that whole situation,” he added.
The delay has created uncertainty around what could have been one of boxing’s biggest attractions in recent years. Pacquiao and Mayweather first met in 2015 in a record-breaking showdown that generated enormous global attention, with Mayweather winning by unanimous decision. A rematch between the two all-time greats has remained a major talking point among boxing fans despite both fighters being well past their competitive primes.
EXHIBITION FIGHT FOR PACMAN?
MP Promotions CEO Jas Mathur said they are setting up an exhibition fight for Manny Pacquiao later this year, after the postponement of his bout vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Mathur said they are looking at end of January for the Mayweather Jr. fight. pic.twitter.com/E8NnV6ekel
— Paige Javier (@PaigeJavier) July 13, 2026
Amid speculation surrounding the rematch, Mathur also addressed questions regarding the nature of a possible Pacquiao-Mayweather fight, insisting that the bout would be a legitimate professional contest and not merely an exhibition.
“It’s going to be a real fight. It’s not going to be an exhibition. That whole statement that happened, it was never an exhibition, contrary to the claims of Mayweather Jr. It’s going to be a real fight. It’s not going to be an exhibition. That whole statement that happened, it was never an exhibition, the contract was never an exhibition, it was never signed as an exhibition,” Mathur continued.
While negotiations with Mayweather remain ongoing, Pacquiao’s camp has also explored other high-profile options, including potential matchups against current champions and rising stars in the welterweight division.
Among the names being considered are World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Rolly Romero and popular boxer Ryan Garcia. However, scheduling remains a challenge, as both fighters are expected to compete in August and September, which could affect the timing of a potential Pacquiao bout.
Mathur expressed confidence that both fighters remain realistic possibilities and revealed his personal interest in making a Pacquiao-Romero showdown happen.
“He’s a good buddy of mine. I actually want to put the Rolly fight together, that was my plan from the beginning. I was even talking about it last year because I’m already with Manny, and Rolly is also with me, my company which is Limitless. Rolly is also a dear good friend. So that’s a very direct situation.
“Ryan will fight Manny. Manny will fight Ryan. Rolly will fight Manny. Manny will fight Rolly. All of these people are on the table. It’s not an issue,” he concluded.
At 47 years old, Pacquiao continues to attract significant interest from the boxing world. Although his last professional fight came in 2021 against Yordenis Ugás, the eight-division world champion has remained active through training and exhibition events as he considers another return to the sport.
With multiple possibilities being discussed, Pacquiao’s next opponent remains uncertain, but his team insists that the Filipino icon will be back in action soon as he looks to add another memorable chapter to his legendary career.
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