WHILE Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have already agreed to a rematch on Sept. 19, 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada, there is the matter of the exhibition fights they have to first take part in.
Pacquiao, 47, previously agreed to an exhibition fight against former WBO junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov of Russia. They are set to meet on April 18 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Mayweather, 49, consented to an exhibition skirmish opposite former world champion Mike Tyson on April 25 in Congo. After sealing the big money fight with Pacquiao, Mayweather also agreed to another exhibition fight against retired kickboxer Mike Zambidis on June 27 in Greece.
Mayweather must be in dire need of money to schedule two exhibition fights before the Pacquiao fight.
Boxing fans believe the exhibition fights should be scrapped because it might jeopardize the real fight that matters: Pacquiao-Mayweather II.
Truth be told, nobody is interested in Pacquiao-Provodnikov.
The 42-year-old Provodnikov last fought in June 2016. The Russian was only a last-minute choice, or after Pacquiao’s bid to secure a fight with WBA welterweight champ Rolly Romero fell through.
If Romero is to be believed, the fight did not happen because Pacquiao kept asking for more money.
As expected, after the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight was announced, the status of the exhibition fight with Provodnikov was placed in limbo. Reports recently cropped up that the fight has not been “officially finalized.”
Pacquiao is better off preserving himself for Mayweather. Then again, not a few believe Provodnikov is a “safe” or low-risk foe. The Russian was a former sparring partner of Pacquiao and they were both trained by Freddie Roach.
In other words, Pacquiao and Provodnikov are buddies. Still, there is the possibility that Pacquiao might get injured given his age.
Provodnikov, nicknamed “The Siberian Rocky,” is a rough houser in the ring. Pacquiao may want to call off the meaningless fight as he risks blowing a $100-million payday.
On the other side of the fence, Mayweather appears bent on pushing through with the Tyson exhibition. This exhibition may bring about a real problem.
Unlike Pacquiao and Provodnikov, there is a lot of bad blood between Mayweather and Tyson.
The animosity goes back to a 2001 incident when police raided Tyson’s Las Vegas home. The raid took place after a woman accused Tyson of sexual assault. The charge did not prosper, but Tyson believed Mayweather was behind it.
Tyson suspected that Mayweather was connected to the woman who contacted the police and concocted the assault charge. The woman dated both Mayweather and Tyson.
In the years that followed, Tyson openly criticized Mayweather’s defensive or “boring” style which was in stark contrast to his aggressive approach.
When Mayweather boasted that he is greater than former world heavyweight champ Muhammad Ali, Tyson reacted by calling Mayweather “delusional.”
Tyson happens to idolize Ali.
In 2014, at a WBC convention, Tyson shared the stage with Mayweather and they almost came to blows.
The hatred is deeply-rooted. While the fight is only an exhibition, the possibility of Tyson sneaking in real haymakers cannot be discounted. Tyson is a heavyweight and will outweigh the smaller Mayweather.
The Tyson fight is a huge risk for Mayweather.
Interestingly, their exhibition has not been officially confirmed as of this writing. Reports however claim Mayweather is contractually obligated to face Tyson.
Mayweather’s other exhibition fight figures to be a breeze. Greece native Zambidis is 45 years old and is a retired kickboxer. The pro career of Zambidis ended 11 years ago.
Zambidis claims to have won 18 world titles but nobody is taking the feat seriously.
Oh, Zambidis goes by the nickname “Iron Mike.”
Tyson is the original “Iron Mike.” Do not be surprised if the fight with the real “Iron Mike” is called off and Mayweather settles for the lesser threat, the very rusty “Iron Mike” Zambidis.
Mayweather may want to settle for the samba with Zambi.
For Pacquiao and Mayweather, it is all about playing their cards right.
The exhibition fights are meant to give the fans an idea of the shape the boxers are in. Pacquiao already proved he can still compete when he held to a draw then WBC welterweight champ Mario Barrios in July 2025.
Mayweather’s last real fight came in 2017, but he looked in great form in his last exhibition fight in 2024.
The astronomical paychecks of Pacquiao and Mayweather are guaranteed and the boxers may want to think twice about going ahead with the exhibitions.