Pacquiao Could Join Mayweather-Tyson Card Before Rematch

Manny Pacquiao could be added to a proposed Floyd Mayweather Jr-Mike Tyson exhibition event in early autumn as part of a wider attempt to resolve the legal and promotional dispute surrounding Mayweather’s next appearances. Officials connected to the arrangement told BoxingScene that the plan would also keep alive a targeted professional rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao in late January, likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and streamed by Netflix.

The proposal centres on Mayweather fulfilling an obligation to face former heavyweight champion Tyson in an exhibition, with Pacquiao appearing in a separate exhibition against an opponent yet to be selected. Miami and Dallas have been discussed as leading options for the doubleheader, while a separate court filing has identified September 26 at the American Airlines Center in Dallas as the date and venue CSI is seeking for Mayweather-Tyson.

The shift follows the collapse of Mayweather’s planned June 27 exhibition with Greek kickboxer Mike Zambidis. CSI Sports Events filed a federal civil lawsuit in New York alleging Mayweather had received $4.65million in advances tied to the Tyson exhibition and a second professional fight with Pacquiao, and claimed the Zambidis bout breached its agreement. DAZN retreated from the broadcast deal, and Ticketmaster also stepped back from further sales before the Zambidis event was scrapped.

Mayweather is still interested in facing Zambidis first, according to one official, and the parties are now working on a version of that exhibition that would be shown on the CSI Sports Event app this summer. That would then be followed by the Mayweather-Tyson showcase and Pacquiao’s exhibition appearance in late September or early October. “That would solve everything,” one official said of the proposed sequence and the financial disputes between Mayweather and CSI.

CSI’s court effort has not ended. U.S. District Judge Vernon S. Broderick denied the company’s request for a temporary restraining order over Mayweather’s involvement in the Zambidis event, a week after the fight was initially scheduled. She found CSI had not demonstrated irreparable harm, but left pending its request for a preliminary injunction. CSI attorney Judd Burstein has asked for expedited proceedings, arguing that a September hearing would leave too little time to stage the Tyson event if Mayweather is ordered to participate.

Pacquiao weighs professional option

Pacquiao’s place on the autumn exhibition card depends on whether he can secure a professional bout first. An individual connected to the situation told BoxingScene that the decision is on a tight deadline and needs to be settled “in the next couple of weeks.” Pacquiao has said he will return to Los Angeles to train around August 1.

Jas Mathur, chief executive of MP Promotions, has also pointed to Ryan Garcia and Rolly Romero as possible professional opponents for Pacquiao. However, Romero will face Teofimo Lopez on August 22, and Garcia is scheduled to defend his title against Conor Benn on September 12, with both fights in Las Vegas. “It’s all on the table,” Mathur said. “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, but we have to focus on what’s in front of us right now. We want to break records.”

Pacquiao, 47, remains positioned for another meeting with Mayweather after fighting then-WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a draw last year. Mayweather defeated Pacquiao by unanimous decision in 2015 at the MGM Grand in what became the most lucrative fight in boxing history, and the planned rematch had originally been lined up for September 25 on Netflix at Sphere before the latest dispute forced a reset.

Mayweather has fought exhibitions since ending his professional career with a win over Conor McGregor in 2017, while Tyson returned to the ring against Jake Paul in November 2024. The immediate next step is whether CSI, Mayweather and the broadcasters can align the Zambidis, Tyson and Pacquiao pieces quickly enough for an autumn event, while Pacquiao’s team decides whether a professional fight takes priority before the proposed January rematch.