Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are poised to clash once more, over 11 years after their initial encounter in May 2015. The rematch is set for September 19 at Sphere in Las Vegas and will be available for streaming on Netflix.
This will be Mayweather’s first professional fight since he defeated former UFC champion Conor McGregor in August 2017. In contrast, Pacquiao has been significantly more active, having fought eight times since their first bout, achieving a record of 5-2-1.
Mayweather, who celebrated his 49th birthday today, revealed last September that he would be facing former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, 59, in an exhibition match planned for Spring 2026. Pacquiao, 47, retired following a decision loss to Yordenis Ugas in August 2021 but made a comeback last July, challenging then-WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, resulting in a majority draw. He also has an exhibition match scheduled against former welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov on April 18 in Las Vegas.
Although both fighters are beyond their prime, the rematch may be more captivating than their first fight. After losing by unanimous decision in 2015, Pacquiao disclosed that he had sustained a shoulder injury during training that affected his performance.
“The main thing that people want to know is this is not an exhibition, this is a real fight,” stated Sean Gibbons, president of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, in an interview with ESPN on Monday. “No one’s buying Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao doing an exhibition. Nobody wants to see that. They want to see these two guys — who are very competitive with each other — fight to determine a winner. The key aspect of the event is that the fight is a real fight, not an exhibition.”
Here’s an overview of why this fight is occurring now — and what fans can realistically anticipate from this long-awaited rematch.
Why are Mayweather and Pacquiao fighting again now?
Despite Mayweather and Pacquiao being 49 and 47, respectively, the boxing landscape has experienced significant changes that have made a rematch a decade after their first encounter much more intriguing than it previously appeared.
Jake Paul is largely to credit for this shift.
Paul’s 2024 matchup with Mike Tyson attracted an enormous audience of 108 million live global viewers on Netflix. The fact that so many viewers tuned in to watch a YouTuber-turned-boxer face a then-58-year-old former heavyweight champion opened the door for similar matchups, allowing fighters to earn substantial sums without relying on pay-per-view sales.
It was always going to be challenging to market a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao rematch after their first meeting in 2015. Although it set records for pay-per-view and gate sales, the fight itself was disappointing as Mayweather secured a comfortable and uneventful unanimous decision. Pacquiao sought a rematch, but Mayweather had no need for it. He retired just two years later after his bout with MMA star Conor McGregor.
Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) announced in the fall that he would return from retirement to face Tyson in an exhibition in April, and now he has reversed his previous stance on not facing Pacquiao again. A significant factor in this decision is the substantial financial opportunity the fight presents, along with the fact that it offers Mayweather a chance to earn a lucrative payday without jeopardizing his undefeated record against a young contender in their prime.
With Netflix now firmly established in combat sports — the Paul vs. Tyson boxing event last year was a major success, and last week the streaming service secured another high-profile matchup between retired fighters, former MMA champion Ronda Rousey and Gina Carano — Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2 aims for unprecedented success.
While both fighters approach age 50, their names still hold considerable influence. The marketing power of Netflix will ensure that this fight maximizes its audience and becomes the most significant boxing event of the year.
What happened the last time Mayweather and Pacquiao fought?
The first Mayweather-Pacquiao fight took place about five years later than intended due to numerous failed negotiations over issues such as drug testing and purse distribution. During that time, Pacquiao transitioned from an unstoppable force to a vulnerable veteran, suffering a surprising decision loss to Timothy Bradley Jr. and a shocking knockout defeat to Juan Manuel Marquez in their four bouts. By the time Mayweather and Pacquiao finally met in the ring in 2015, it was clear that Mayweather was still performing at a high level — with victories over Canelo Alvarez and twice against powerful puncher Marcos Maidana — while Pacquiao was no longer the dominant force he had been from 2005 to 2011. Nevertheless, the anticipation was immense, leading to a record-breaking event that shattered numerous boxing records with a $72.2 million gate and $410 million in revenue from 4.6 million pay-per-view purchases. The fight itself was one-sided, with Mayweather controlling the action from the outset with a classic performance featuring a precise jab. The scorecards reflected the lack of excitement, as Mayweather won 118-110, 116-112, and 116-112.
Pacquiao later expressed that a shoulder injury sustained during training hindered him in the fight, and he sought a rematch. He was denied until now.
What can we expect from the rematch?
It is difficult to predict. Mayweather has not faced an opponent of significance with a legitimate boxing background since he fought Andre Berto in 2015. Since then, he has competed against an MMA fighter (McGregor) and participated in exhibition matches against YouTubers (Logan Paul and Deji Olatunji), a reality TV star (Aaron Chalmers), the grandson of a notorious mafia figure (John Gatti III), a boxing journeyman (Don Moore), and a kickboxer (Tenshin Nasukawa) over the past decade. While he has consistently maintained excellent physical condition, age will undoubtedly impact his performance.
Pacquiao has been more active in recent years, securing victories over Adrien Broner, Keith Thurman, Lucas Matthysse, Jessie Vargas, and Bradley since his loss to Mayweather. He has also suffered defeats to Jeff Horn and Yordenis Ugas, with his most recent fight ending in a majority draw against Barrios. He is no longer the flurry of punches that overwhelmed opponents nearly two decades ago, but he remains in remarkable shape at 47.
While neither fighter will be in their physical prime, they will be on equal footing regarding age, which could lead to an engaging fight. However, if Mayweather retains the defensive skills and tactical brilliance that allowed him to outmaneuver Pacquiao in their first encounter, the fight may turn out to be another lackluster affair. Conversely, if Pacquiao’s claims of an injured shoulder affecting his performance in the first fight hold any truth, he may deliver a more effective offensive display this time.
Will there be drug testing for this fight?
Currently, there is no information available concerning drug testing for the fight. ESPN has reached out to the Nevada State Athletic Commission and is awaiting a response.
Who’s promoting this fight?
The fight will be co-promoted by Manny Pacquiao Promotions and Mayweather Promotions, in collaboration with CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS, which entered into a multi-year agreement with Mayweather upon his announcement to resume his professional career.
Have there been any other sporting events at Sphere?
The $2.3 billion entertainment venue near the Las Vegas Strip, known for its spherical design and immersive audio-visual capabilities, has primarily hosted concerts since its opening in 2023. However, the UFC held its Noche UFC pay-per-view event there on September 14, 2024, featuring a championship fight between Sean O’Malley and Merab Dvalishvili. According to the UFC, the event incurred production costs exceeding $20 million. UFC CEO Dana White stated it was a “one and done.” To date, it remains the only sporting event held at Sphere.
Where will this fight rank in revenue, and what will the purses be?
It is not yet clear how much each fighter will earn — or how their respective contracts are structured — and it may take some time before those figures are disclosed. However, Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 could potentially set records as the most viewed sporting event ever, a title currently held by Paul-Tyson’s 108 million global viewers. This rematch may also aim to surpass the substantial gate revenue of their previous fight.
Mayweather-Pacquiao 1 still holds the record for the highest Las Vegas gate in boxing history, with $72.2 million. Mayweather also occupies the No. 2 position, with $55.4 million in ticket sales from his fight against McGregor.
Regarding the purses, Mayweather reportedly earned between $200-$250 million for the first Pacquiao fight, while “PacMan” received approximately $120-$150 million. Their purses could potentially fall within a similar range, given the anticipated high ticket prices. The UFC’s event at Sphere saw ticket prices ranging from $674 to over $44,000, with the average ticket price hovering between $1,000-$3,000. Mayweather-Pacquiao 1 had face value tickets priced between $1,500 and $7,500 but skyrocketed on the secondary market, with some floor seat tickets selling for over $22,000.
In summary, there is significant financial potential for this fight.
