For eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao, his upcoming rematch against Floyd Mayweather, Jr. on September 19 is a “real fight.”
The Filipino boxing icon spoke up to clear the air on Mayweather’s recent remarks.
“I wish to clear up any misinformation regarding my upcoming bout against Floyd Mayweather,” Pacquiao said in a statement released on April 2.
Last week, Mayweather Jr. called the scheduled bout at The Sphere in Las Vegas an ‘exhibition’ and they just want to entertain the public.
But as far as Pacquiao is concerned, he signed up for a professional boxing match that will be on both their records.
“From the beginning, my intention has been to give the fans what they truly want to see. A high-level, competitive sanctioned fight,” he said.
“I want to be very clear that the contract we signed is for a professional boxing match. This is not an exhibition; it is a real fight,” Pacquiao asserted.
Last February, streaming giant Netflix announced the Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch will be live globally on its platform.
“Their announcement reflected the exact terms of our agreement. My team and I remain fully committed to the conditions of that contract, and we are preparing for a professional-grade battle,” Pacquiao said.
Pacquiao likewise clarified the exhibition match with retired former junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov in April has yet to be finalized.
“The People’s Champ” earlier said he had begun light training five months ahead of the highly-anticipated bout against Mayweather.
Pacquiao also confirmed he will be reuniting with longtime trainers Freddie Roach and Buboy Fernandez in Los Angeles, California.
“I am working hard now and started my gym training and I look forward to stepping back into the ring to prove that the fire is still there. Nothing has changed on our end, and we expect the original terms of the agreement to be honored,” he said.
The eight-division world champion is in Temecula, California to support his son Jimuel’s second pro fight against Darrick Gates.
Pacquiao eyes redemption against Mayweather, following the unanimous decision loss when they last met in May 2015 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. (ABS-CBN News)