The much-anticipated rematch between boxing legends Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has been postponed indefinitely following a series of legal and financial disputes involving Mayweather’s camp.

Pacquiao’s team confirmed the development on Friday, attributing the delay to what it described as “a volatile mix of federal lawsuits, scheduling overbooks, and financial gridlock” surrounding the American boxing icon.

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The announcement came after ESPN reported that Mayweather’s planned exhibition bout against Greek kickboxing star Mike Zambidis, scheduled to take place in Athens, Greece, had also been called off after an events company linked to the Pacquiao fight sought a court injunction.

The rematch had generated global excitement, with fans eager to see the two Hall of Famers square off again more than a decade after their record-breaking 2015 showdown, which attracted 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and became one of the biggest money-spinning fights in boxing history.

However, preparations for the September bout hit a stumbling block after Mayweather insisted the contest would only be an exhibition fight, a position Pacquiao’s camp strongly disputed.

The situation worsened after events company CSI filed a lawsuit against Mayweather, seeking to recover at least $4.65 million it claims to have paid the undefeated boxer for exclusive promotional rights to both the Pacquiao rematch and a proposed exhibition fight against former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson—events that never materialised.

According to Pacquiao’s camp, the earliest the rematch could now take place is early 2027, provided the legal disputes are resolved.

The team added that if Mayweather and CSI reach an out-of-court settlement, promoters will immediately move to reschedule Mayweather’s postponed exhibition bout with Mike Tyson, tentatively targeting September 12.

Mayweather, 49, retired from professional boxing in 2017 with an unbeaten 50-0 record but has remained active through exhibition bouts.

His latest exhibition against Zambidis was expected to hold on Saturday at the Telekon Center inside the OAKA Olympic Complex in Athens before it was cancelled.

With the legal battle still unresolved, boxing fans may have to wait until 2027 to witness one of the sport’s most anticipated rematches.

The Chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Shehu Dikko, has confirmed that Super Eagles head coach Eric Chelle will continue in charge of Nigeria’s senior national team after agreeing new contract terms with the authorities.

Dikko disclosed this on Tuesday after a crucial meeting between officials of the NSC and the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) in Abuja, where major decisions on the future structure of Nigeria’s national teams were concluded.

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According to him, the agreement not only secures Chelle’s stay with the Super Eagles but also expands his responsibilities to include the Olympic Eagles (U-23 team) as Nigeria begins long-term preparations for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

Chelle’s previous two-year contract was set to expire at the end of 2026, but negotiations had been ongoing for months following improved performances by the senior team, including a third-place finish at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco.

Reports earlier suggested that the Franco-Malian tactician had requested a revised salary package of about $130,000 monthly, a figure that was expected to also cover his assistants and technical crew.

Dikko, however, confirmed that a fresh agreement has now been reached, with improved remuneration and better support for the coaching staff.

“We have reached new terms with the coach about his new remuneration. We are also going to take care of his assistants, and there are other benchmarks that we have put on the table,” Dikko said after the meeting.

Beyond the senior national team, Chelle has now been handed responsibility for the Olympic Eagles, a move authorities say is aimed at creating continuity between youth development and the Super Eagles setup.

“With the NFF, we also agreed that the coach will take care of the U-23 national team because we have young players coming into the Super Eagles within that age bracket,” Dikko explained.

He added that the decision is not meant to overload the coach but to ensure a structured pathway for young talents transitioning into the senior team.

The expanded role comes with increased expectations, especially as Nigeria aims to rebuild its dominance in international football.

The Olympic Eagles have failed to qualify for the last two Olympic Games (Tokyo 2020 and Paris 2024), while the Super Eagles also endured a difficult spell before qualifying for the ongoing 2026 FIFA World Cup.

With the new arrangement, the NSC and NFF are banking on stability, continuity, and long-term planning as Nigeria looks ahead to both World Cup and Olympic success.

Belgium have suffered a major setback ahead of their crucial FIFA World Cup Group G clash against Iran after star winger Jeremy Doku was ruled out of the match due to illness.

The Belgian Football Association confirmed on Saturday that the Manchester City forward would not be available for selection when the Red Devils take on Iran at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

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“Due to illness, Jeremy Doku will not be part of the squad for our upcoming game against Iran,” Belgium announced in a statement on social media.

Doku featured in Belgium’s opening World Cup fixture against Egypt, which ended in a 1-1 draw. However, the 24-year-old struggled to make a significant impact and was replaced by Matias Fernandez-Pardo late in the game.

His absence comes as Belgium seek their first victory of the tournament and attempt to strengthen their chances of progressing from Group G.

With the Red Devils under pressure to deliver after dropping points in their opener, Doku’s unavailability is expected to be a significant blow to coach Rudi Garcia’s plans.

The Manchester City star is regarded as one of Belgium’s brightest talents and a key figure in the country’s efforts to rebuild following the disappointing group-stage exit of their famed “golden generation” at the 2022 World Cup.

Adding to the uncertainty surrounding his tournament participation, Doku could also miss a potential knockout-stage fixture, as his wife is expected to give birth to their first child during the second week of July.

Belgium will now look to overcome Iran without one of their most dangerous attacking players as they aim to get their World Cup campaign back on track.