LOS ANGELES (AP) – Boxing legends Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao have officially agreed to hold a rematch of their historic 2015 fight. The highly anticipated second bout is set to take place on September 19 in Las Vegas, as announced by both fighters on Monday. This rematch will be streamed on Netflix and represents a significant moment as it will be the first boxing event held at the Sphere, the innovative and immersive venue located east of the Las Vegas Strip.
Floyd Mayweather, who will turn 49 years old just a day before the fight, recently expressed his desire to come out of a nine-year retirement from competitive boxing. On the other hand, Manny Pacquiao, now 47, has also revived his boxing career after ending a four-year hiatus. He is scheduled to fight Ruslan Provodnikov on April 18 as part of his comeback.
The details regarding the weight class and duration of the rematch have not yet been disclosed by either fighter. This upcoming encounter comes 11 years after Mayweather emerged victorious over Pacquiao by decision in their first clash, which did not meet the immense anticipation built over a decade. Despite mixed opinions on the initial match, promoters have declared it remains the most lucrative fight in boxing history, setting records for pay-per-view buys and garnering worldwide attention.
In a statement, Mayweather proclaimed, "I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result." This confidence stems in part from their previous bout, during which Pacquiao later revealed he competed with a shoulder injury, hampering his ability to pressure Mayweather effectively. Mayweather's defensive style and strategy ultimately allowed him to secure victory in that encounter.
Pacquiao, for his part, has expressed his eagerness for the rematch, stating, "The fans have waited long enough – they deserve this rematch. I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him." This rematch arrives more than a decade after the initial calls for a showdown between these two boxing icons, who both have long been regarded as two of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters of their era.
At this stage in their careers, both fighters are significantly removed from their peak performance years, but they continue to be prominent figures in boxing, attracting considerable media attention and fan interest. Following his retirement after a perfect 50-0 record, which included a lucrative fight against Conor McGregor in 2017, Mayweather has participated in various exhibition matches against lesser-known opponents, while also navigating legal disputes concerning financial matters, including unpaid rent and outstanding jewelry bills.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao has ventured into politics, unsuccessfully running for the presidency in the Philippines and facing setbacks in the Philippine Senate elections last May. Despite these challenges, he quickly returned to the boxing ring, aiming to reclaim his status as a champion in the welterweight division and attempting to become the oldest fighter at 147 pounds to hold a championship title.
The rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao further highlights Netflix's expanding interest in live sports programming, as this fight joins a growing list of significant boxing events featured on the streaming platform. Netflix has previously broadcasted notable bouts, including Terence Crawford's win over Canelo Álvarez, and it is set to showcase heavyweight champion Tyson Fury's upcoming fight in April.
Adding to the intrigue surrounding the rematch is the Sphere venue, which opened in 2023 and had already hosted a UFC event in 2024. UFC President Dana White revealed that producing the show cost approximately $20 million, significantly higher than a typical UFC pay-per-view event, due to the venue's unique features and requirements.
