Manny Pacquiao takes over Floyd Mayweather's old gym amid rematch tension between the boxing rivals

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Manny Pacquiao let the setting speak before he said a word.

Inside a boxing gym once tied to Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the heart of Hollywood, Pacquiao walked past a partially finished ring, pointing toward future placements for heavy bags and glancing at a larger-than-life image of his rival that will soon be taken down. The space, which is set to open this summer, already carries its new identity: Pacquiao Prime Boxing.

The timing adds another layer.

Pacquiao and Mayweather are set to meet again Sept. 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, a rematch more than a decade after their record-setting 2015 bout. In recent days, attention around the fight has centered on how it will be presented, with Mayweather describing it as an exhibition while Pacquiao points to the terms he agreed to.

Representatives for Mayweather did not respond to requests for comment.

“He knows what he signed,” Pacquiao said in an interview with The Associated Press this week, offering a steady, matter-of-fact view as he continues preparation for the bout. It comes down to principle for the Filipino boxer, who ended his own four-year retirement last year. The 49-year-old undefeated Mayweather returns after retiring nine years ago.

“Dignity. Integrity,” Pacquiao, 47, said. “That’s what matters.”

Behind the scenes, the focus has shifted from how the fight is being described to how it moves forward.

Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions and a producer on the event, said the bout is anchored by multiple signed agreements, and that those terms remain clear. He said Mayweather was well aware

“Not one, not two, but three different agreements,” Mathur said. “He signed all of them.”

According to Mathur, those agreements outline a professional fight, not an exhibition, and include financial commitments already in motion. His comments come amid broader questions surrounding Mayweather's plans, including previously reported bouts with former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson and against kickboxer Mike Zambidis — which could complicate the agreement.

“He took an advance on his purse,” Mathur said. “Everything is black and white."

Mathur described the situation as a breach of contract, pointing to public comments that differ from the signed terms. He added that the matter is now being handled through legal channels as both sides work toward a resolution.

“There are consequences that come with that,” Mathur said.

Pacquiao's focus remains steady. But for him, the situation comes down to clarity and commitment.

“What we signed is a real fight,” he said. “I know that he knows what he signed. ... We signed both, and I hope he honors it.”

When asked what it would signal if the bout does not move forward as planned, Mathur did not hesitate.

“He’s a chicken,” he said.

Standing beside him, Pacquiao responded in his own way, letting out a brief “bawk, bawk, bawk” while flapping his arms, drawing laughter from both.

Beyond the immediate stakes of the fight, Pacquiao also addressed the broader conversation surrounding legacy, including how greatness is defined in boxing. It's a discussion that has long included both him and Mayweather.

“I don’t even claim myself as the greatest,” said Pacquiao, who noted he’s the only fighter to win titles across four decades. “I let the people say who is the greatest.”

Taking over a space once associated with Mayweather, especially in the lead-up to a high-profile rematch, carries a natural layer of symbolism. But Pacquiao and his team framed the decision through a different lens.

While standing in front of Mayweather’s image — one that will soon be replaced — Pacquiao described a new direction for the space as one centered on performance rather than accessibility.

The facility will operate as a private training center for professional fighters, athletes and select guests. There are plans to expand the model across major markets.

Mathur pointed to location and visibility as key drivers behind the decision, noting the volume of daily traffic through the Hollywood corridor. At the same time, he suggested the opportunity reflects a broader shift in approach tied to the previous business connected to Mayweather’s brand.

“There was a chance to build something much bigger,” Mathur said. “We’re looking at this differently.”

Pacquiao said he wants to create opportunities for the next generation of fighters while expanding his footprint in the sport.

“This is our passion,” he said. “To build more boxing gyms and help develop fighters.”

Beyond the fight, Pacquiao and his team are building with a broader vision in mind.

From fighter development under Manny Pacquiao Promotions to new training hubs through the Hollywood gym, the focus extends well past the ring.

Mathur, who partners with Pacquiao across multiple ventures, described a strategy centered on long-term growth, including efforts to bring Pacquiao’s established business footprint from Asia into the United States and beyond.

“Manny is actively involved,” Mathur said. “This is about building something bigger.”

That vision also includes ventures in financial technology, highlighted by Manny Pay — a digital wallet platform the team is working to expand internationally — along with media and consumer products tied to Pacquiao’s global reach.

In a space being rebuilt for what comes next, Pacquiao is moving forward with focus. He said the balance between business and boxing remains clear.

“Both,” he said, when asked what drives him now. “We're focused on this fight, and building our own businesses.”

AP Boxing: https://apnews.com/hub/boxing

Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, left, and boxer Manny Pacquiao tour the new "Pacquiao Prime Boxing" gym, a boxing facility formerly owned by rival Floyd Mayweather Jr., in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles on Monday, April 6, 2026. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Boxer Manny Pacquiao pauses for a picture while touring the "Pacquiao Prime Boxing," his newly acquired gym in Hollywood, on Monday, April 6, 2026. The facility was formerly owned by rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Boxer Manny Pacquiao tours "Pacquiao Prime Boxing," his newly acquired gym in Hollywood, on Monday, April 6, 2026. The facility was formerly owned by rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Boxer Manny Pacquiao poses fora pictures while touringfff "Pacquiao Prime Boxing," his newly acquired gym in Hollywood, on Monday, April 6, 2026. The facility was formerly owned by rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Boxer Manny Pacquiao pauses for a picture outside his "Pacquiao Prime Boxing," his newly acquired gym in Hollywood, on Monday, April 6, 2026. The facility was formerly owned by rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

ARAFAT, Saudi Arabia (AP) — Muslim pilgrims from around the world congregated on Mount Arafat in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, the second official day of the annual Islamic pilgrimage, considered the pinnacle of the Hajj.

Despite the sweltering heat, the pilgrims gathered on the rocky hill and surrounding plain for intense prayers and worship that often mark a spiritual peak for them. They fervently murmured prayers and poured their hearts out in supplications. Many raised their hands in worship. It is common for pilgrims on that day, some with tears streaming down their faces, to ask God for forgiveness, mercy, blessings and good health.

The Hajj, one of the Five Pillars of Islam, is required once in a lifetime for every Muslim who can afford it and is physically able to perform it.

For pilgrims, the Hajj, performed over several days, can be a deeply moving spiritual experience and a chance to seek God’s forgiveness and the erasure of past sins. As they brave the intense heat to perform religious rituals, many pilgrims have been using umbrellas for shade.

A Saudi official said on Friday that more than 1.5 million pilgrims have arrived in the country from abroad.

This year, Muslims have been pouring into Saudi Arabia for the Hajj against the backdrop of a tenuous ceasefire in the Iran war and related uncertainty in the region.

The U.S. military said Monday that it carried out “self-defense” strikes in southern Iran, including on missile launch sites and boats used to lay mines, even as President Donald Trump said on social media that negotiations with Tehran were “proceeding nicely." Iran on Tuesday denounced the most recent U.S. strikes as a sign of “bad faith and unreliability” as negotiations pressed on toward a possible deal to end the war.

For many, performing the Hajj can be a realization of a lifelong dream as they spend years hoping and praying to one day be able to undertake the pilgrimage or saving up money and waiting for a permit to embark on the trip.

“This happens once in a lifetime,” Mohammad Asal, an Egyptian pilgrim, said. “People here have prepared their prayers, hoping that God will respond to them, because we know that ... the most important ritual of the Hajj is being in Arafat.”

The Hajj brings together large numbers of Muslims of diverse races, ethnicities, languages and socioeconomic classes, creating a sense of unity for many. It’s a mass, communal experience, with Muslims performing rituals together. But it is also deeply personal, as every pilgrim brings their own yearnings and experiences.

“It was incredible,” Ahmed Sufyan, a pilgrim from the United States, said on Tuesday. “The unity and peace that we feel is something I’ve never experienced before,” he added via WhatsApp.

“Our wishes are many,” Mohammad Obaid, a Sudanese pilgrim, said, adding he was praying for Sudan and Muslims everywhere.

Fam reported from Winter Park, Florida.

Associated Press religion coverage receives support through the AP’s collaboration with The Conversation US, with funding from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP is solely responsible for this content.

A Muslim pilgrim pray atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims walk towards the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims are silhouetted as they pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims pray at top of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

Muslim pilgrims read a copy of Islam's holy book Quran atop of the rocky hill known as the Mountain of Mercy, on the Plain of Arafat, during the annual Hajj pilgrimage near the holy city of Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Tuesday, May 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)