Manny Pacquiao sets Sept. 19 rematch vs. Floyd Mayweather — manny pacquiao to return
manny pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have agreed a professional rematch to take place at Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday, 19 September, with the bout to be streamed live on Netflix. The pairing reunites two veterans whose 2015 meeting was billed as the 'Fight of the Century' and remains the richest in boxing history.
Manny Pacquiao returns in rematch
Pacquiao, 47, has said: "Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history. 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. " In separate coverage, Pacquiao added: "The fans have waited long enough – they deserve this rematch, and it will be even bigger now that it will be streamed live globally on Netflix. I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him. As always, I dedicate this fight to my fellow Filipinos around the world and to bringing glory to the Philippines. "
Mayweather ends retirement again
Mayweather, 48, announced he would come out of retirement for a fourth time last week. It was noted that he "turns 49 on Tuesday, " and Mayweather said: "I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result. " He has won all 50 of his professional fights, with 27 coming by knockout, and has had a string of exhibition bouts since retiring in 2017.
Sphere in Las Vegas date and streaming
The rematch will be the first professional boxing match to be staged at Sphere in Las Vegas and is scheduled for Saturday, 19 September, with the fight live on Netflix. It is not yet known over how many rounds or at what weight class the rematch will be contested.
Recent fights and records
Mayweather's last professional bout before his retirement was the contest with mixed martial arts fighter Conor McGregor, which ended with a 10th-round technical knockout in 2017; some coverage described that outing as a glorified exhibition. Pacquiao retired from the sport to focus on his political career in 2021 but returned to the ring last July to fight WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, who retained his title after a draw. Pacquiao is the winner of 12 world titles across eight weight classes and has 62 wins from his 73 bouts. Coverage noted that Pacquiao fought for the WBC welterweight championship last year but that he is far from the force he was in his prime.
History, reaction and promotion
Mayweather and Pacquiao first met in 2015 in Las Vegas; Mayweather emerged victorious with a wide unanimous decision. The 2015 meeting was billed as the 'Fight of the Century' and remains the richest fight in boxing history. Both fighters built up the renewed rivalry on Monday, and commentators suggested the 2015 fight was a tame affair with both boxers past their peaks and that September's bout may be of an even lower quality. Pacquiao said in October that the pair were close to agreeing a rematch but that it depended on he and Mayweather being able to "understand each other. "
Mayweather’s broader plans and Netflix context
Mayweather is scheduled to face Mike Tyson this year and announced the end of his retirement on Saturday with the claim: "From my upcoming Mike Tyson event to my next professional fight afterwards: no-one will generate a bigger gate, have a larger global broadcast audience and generate more money with each event than my events. " That Tyson event follows Tyson's first fight since ending his 19-year retirement in November in a controversial defeat by YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul. Netflix's investment in live sports was highlighted, with its broadcast of Jake Paul v Mike Tyson in 2024 attracting 108 million live global viewers and being described as the most-streamed sporting event in history; Netflix has also shown NFL games on Christmas Day and provided live coverage of climber Alex Honnold scaling a Taipei skyscraper last month. Analysts suggested whatever the quality of the fight, it will earn both men tens of millions of dollars, noting Pacquiao's stature as a national hero in the Philippines and Mayweather's lucrative career and penchant for playing the villain.
It remains unclear in the provided context how many rounds the rematch will be contested over or at which weight class it will take place.
Closing: The rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather is set for 19 September at Sphere in Las Vegas, will be streamed live on Netflix, and brings together fighters with long records, a complex recent history and competing commercial plans.
