More than 11 years after staging the most lucrative fight in boxing history, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. are set to meet again.
A rematch between the two Hall of Fame fighters is scheduled for Saturday, Sept. 19, with Netflix announcing it will stream the bout globally. The fight will take place in the state-of-the-art Sphere in Las Vegas.
The long-discussed sequel was revealed during DAZN’s Inside the Ring and follows months of negotiations between the two camps. The Ring Magazine reported in October that Pacquiao and Mayweather were in talks for a money-spinning rematch, with a fall date targeted.
That timeline has now been finalized.
Sphere in Running to Host Historic Rematch
The Sphere, which can seat up to 20,000 fans, has quickly become one of the premier venues in combat sports after hosting UFC 306 in September 2024. Its immersive technology and capacity make it a natural fit for a globally streamed boxing event of this magnitude.
Final confirmation of the ticketing information and undercard bouts has not yet been announced.
Mayweather Returning in Professional Capacity
Mayweather, who will turn 49 this week, recently announced he would return to boxing in a professional capacity following his April 25 exhibition bout against Mike Tyson. While Mayweather has remained active in exhibitions since retiring undefeated, the Pacquiao rematch would mark his first fully sanctioned professional bout in years.
Mayweather retired with a 50-0 record and is widely regarded as one of the most accomplished defensive fighters in boxing history. His return for a Pacquiao rematch would represent another major chapter in a career defined by record-breaking events and financial success.
Pacquiao Active After Barrios Draw
Pacquiao, now 47, returned to the ring on July 19 in Las Vegas, challenging Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title. The fight ended in a majority draw, with two judges scoring it even and one awarding a narrow decision to Barrios.
The result fueled debate over Pacquiao’s ability to compete at the elite level at his age but also demonstrated his continued drawing power.
Pacquiao is also scheduled to face former WBO junior welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov in a 10-round exhibition on April 18 at UNLV’s Thomas & Mack Center. That bout will serve as his final ring appearance before the September rematch.
Revisiting Boxing’s Biggest Fight
Pacquiao and Mayweather first fought on May 2, 2015, in a welterweight title bout billed as “The Fight of the Century.” Mayweather won by unanimous decision in a tactical contest that drew criticism from fans who expected more sustained action.
Despite mixed reviews, the fight shattered boxing records. It generated more than $600 million in total revenue, produced a record 4.4 million pay-per-view buys, and generated over $72 million at the gate, making it the most lucrative bout in the sport’s history.
Pacquiao later disclosed he entered the fight with a torn rotator cuff, a revelation that fueled years of speculation and persistent calls for a rematch.
Netflix’s Growing Sports Push
Netflix’s involvement marks a significant shift in how major boxing events are distributed. Rather than relying on a traditional pay-per-view model, the global streaming platform will make the rematch available to subscribers worldwide, potentially expanding the fight’s reach beyond boxing’s core audience.
Industry observers view Pacquiao–Mayweather II as a test case for whether streaming services can redefine the business model for marquee combat sports events.
More than a decade after their first meeting, Pacquiao and Mayweather will again headline one of the most anticipated fights in boxing — this time in a new era of global streaming.
Pacquiao–Mayweather 2 Is Finally Happening — Netflix Sets September Rematch