Manny Pacquiao said he has signed a contract for a fight with Floyd Mayweather and that he ​would not get back into the ring with the ‌American if it was an exhibition bout.

Mayweather, 49, and Pacquiao, 47 announced last month that they would meet at the Sphere ​in Las Vegas in September, with the bout streaming ​globally on Netflix.

However, Mayweather told Vegas Sports Today last ⁠week that it would be an exhibition bout, not ​a real fight, and that a venue had yet to ​be decided.

“If that’s what he is feeling but he signed for a real match. The contract that we signed is for a ​real fight,” Pacquiao told local media on Thursday. “He has ​to remember that.”

Mayweather, who holds a perfect 50-0 record with 27 knockouts, ‌defeated ⁠Pacquiao in a 2015 encounter dubbed the “Fight of the Century”.

Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions and a producer for the event, said the agreement was for a fight.

“No ​one in ​these last three ⁠months has brought up anything related to the venue or related to the fight ​not being a professional fight,” Mathur told ​ESPN.

“His team ⁠has had all the contracts. He signed all the contracts.”

Reuters has requested comment from Mayweather’s camp.

The 2015 bout between the ⁠boxers ​generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view ​buys and a $72 million live gate at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

-Reuters

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The Nigerian boxing landscape has been thrown into uncertainty following reports that the Nigerian Boxing Federation (NBF) is considering steps to regulate professional boxing—an area traditionally overseen by the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control (NBBofC).

Reacting swiftly, the NBBofC has dismissed the reports as misleading, warning that any such move could destabilise the established structure of the sport in the country.

In a statement released on Wednesday, the Board reaffirmed its statutory authority as the sole body responsible for the regulation, control, and sanctioning of professional boxing in Nigeria.

“The attention of the Nigerian Boxing Board of Control has been drawn to insinuations that another body intends to assume regulatory authority over professional boxing in Nigeria. We wish to categorically state that such claims are unfounded and should be disregarded,” the statement read.

The Board stressed that the NBF’s mandate is confined strictly to amateur boxing, in line with global sports governance frameworks, and does not extend to the professional ranks.

NBBofC President, Rafiu Ladipo, warned that any attempt by another organisation to assume control of professional boxing could trigger administrative conflicts, weaken regulatory standards, and expose athletes to unnecessary risks.

The Board also cautioned promoters, managers, and boxers against engaging with unauthorised bodies claiming regulatory powers.

“We advise all promoters, managers, and boxers to remain vigilant and not be misled by such insinuations. The NBBofC remains fully committed to its responsibility of regulating and sanctioning professional boxing in Nigeria in accordance with established rules and international best practices,” the statement added.

Observers within the boxing community note that clarity in regulatory authority is critical—not only for safeguarding athletes but also for ensuring fair competition and maintaining Nigeria’s credibility within the global boxing ecosystem.

For now, the NBBofC has reiterated its resolve to continue overseeing professional boxing in the country, even as stakeholders await further clarification on the reported position of the NBF.

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Oleksandr Usyk will put his WBC heavyweight title belt on the line against Dutch kickboxer Rico Verhoeven on May 23 at Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza, Ring Magazine announced on Friday.

The Ukrainian three-times undisputed champion holds the IBF, WBA and WBC titles after vacating the WBO belt.

The 39-year-old has not boxed since beating Britain’s Daniel Dubois at London’s Wembley Stadium last July.

“I respect his (Verhoeven’s) journey – he’s truly the ‘King of Kickboxing’. But this is boxing – a different game, with its own rules and its own kings,” said Usyk, who has a 24-0 record.

“I’m ready and looking forward to meeting him in the ring. It’s going to be a unique experience for both of us, and I know the fans are excited too. A big night is coming.”

The ‘Glory in Giza’ fight will be streamed live on DAZN.

“I spent 12 years as the undisputed heavyweight kickboxing champion and accomplished everything I set out to accomplish,” Verhoeven, 36, told The Ring.

“But staying at the top for that long didn’t take away from the hunger; it strengthened it. Usyk is the undisputed champion in boxing. That’s the kind of challenge that motivated me. Undisputed versus undisputed.”

Verhoeven has sparred in the past with former champion Tyson Fury and had one professional bout in 2014, which he won by a knockout.

-Reuters

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