Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao set to face off: A throwback to 2011?

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao revealed on Monday that they will face off on Sept. 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas, with the event being streamed globally on Netflix.

This would have been remarkable … in 2011.

Instead, it appears to be a cash grab rooted in nostalgia — largely for what never materialized. It is both disheartening and indicative of the current state of boxing, particularly the fact that even after two prosperous and celebrated careers, both fighters seemingly require money this urgently.

Mayweather is 49 years old; Pacquiao, 47. A decade and a half ago, during their prime, they should have clashed two or three times, creating a series or trilogy for the ages; two of the greatest boxers ever meeting to determine the best fighter of their generation.

The aggressive tenacity of Pacquiao against the defensive brilliance of Mayweather. It could have been akin to Muhammad Ali-Joe Frazier encounters.

Boxing enthusiasts eagerly anticipated it, debated it endlessly, and implored for it to occur. However, a mix of politics, caution, and accusations, among other factors, prevented it from happening between 2010 and 2012.

They finally squared off in 2015, with Mayweather winning against Pacquiao by unanimous decision in a largely uneventful match. It broke box-office records due to the pent-up demand, even though Pacquiao had already begun to decline significantly.

Now we are presented with a sequel to a disappointing film. This isn’t even “Caddyshack II.” At least the original was a classic.

“Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history,” Pacquiao stated on Monday. “The fans have waited long enough — they deserve this rematch.”

“Biggest” in terms of fans spending money on what they hoped to witness, not what they actually experienced. As for boxing aficionados, they don’t deserve this — haven’t they endured enough? Few, if any, were requesting a rematch.

The first fight generated an estimated $400 million, at a minimum, yet despite that income, and all the earnings throughout their careers, both fighters are still in need. Mayweather reportedly earned around $1 billion during his career but was allegedly sued earlier this month by a Miami jeweler for bouncing checks on an alleged $1.675 million shopping spree (15 gold watches, 26 luxury watches).

This is likely the motivation for not only this fight but also an even more absurd exhibition match on April 25 against 59-year-old Mike Tyson, which is said to take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Mayweather doesn’t require 26 Rolexes to realize that time is running out.

At its peak, there is nothing comparable to an exceptional prizefight, the anticipation, the risk, the buildup. It is primal and has captivated audiences for centuries.

However, what the sport has devolved into is make-believe, with too few breakout stars and genuine contests. This has led to an abundance of circus acts masquerading as the real thing, which sell the illusion but fall short once the bell rings.

There are still notable moments, but the best current fighters in the world have struggled to gain recognition, particularly in the United States.

Oleksandr Usyk, the unbeaten heavyweight champion and ESPN’s No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter globally, remains largely unknown outside of boxing, with his bouts primarily occurring in Europe and Saudi Arabia. No. 2 Naoya Inoue is a whirlwind in the junior featherweight division — and a four-division champion — but faces a similar fate, mostly competing out of Japan, where he is one of the most celebrated athletes. Terence “Bud” Crawford has retired. Canelo Alvarez is nearing the end of his career. If anything, it is the women’s division featuring Claressa Shields, Katie Taylor, and Amanda Serrano that has delivered.

In the U.S., Jake Paul has astutely filled the gap, catering to the market for significant fights — even putting his own safety at risk. For all the commercial success and necessary attention it generates, that isn’t boxing at the highest level.

The popularity of combat sports has always depended on the rise and fall of major stars and personalities. Boxing has experienced droughts before, but there has always been hope for a new wave of talent, charisma, and rivalry to emerge. Recently, however, the downturn has felt more pronounced. The mechanisms to elevate fighters into household names have weakened. Alternative entertainment options have increased.

The most troubling aspect of Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 isn’t that it is occurring, but that it can occur due to the lack of compelling fights or must-see fighters, making this a blatant spectacle.

It highlights that the sport cannot provide the Sphere and Netflix with something authentic.

Instead, we receive the sequel no one requested, stemming from an original that arrived too late, featuring two middle-aged men who have seemingly squandered enough of their fortunes that, like the sport they once dominated, have no other alternatives.