Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao agree professional rematch at Sphere
Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are set to face off in a professional rematch at the Las Vegas Sphere in September 2026, over a decade after their record-breaking first encounter.
A ‘Fight of the Century’ sequel
The boxing icons will meet in a fully sanctioned professional bout rather than an exhibition. The event is scheduled to take place at the state-of-the-art Las Vegas Sphere, marking a significant upgrade from their 2015 clash at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Pacquiao will be aiming to become the first fighter to defeat his American rival. The Filipino legend lost via unanimous decision in their original contest, which was billed as the ‘Fight of the Century’.
Netflix driving ‘nostalgia’ push
Despite the combined age of the combatants reaching 96 by the scheduled fight night, streaming giant Netflix has pushed to broadcast the event. DAZN News journalist Chris Oliver suggests the commercial appeal of nostalgia is the primary factor behind the deal.
It’s the rematch nobody asked for, but we’re getting it anyway.
Oliver added: “If they were both past their best in 2015, why would there be much interest in a 2026 rematch? Well, nothing sells like nostalgia and Netflix knows that all too well.”
Lucrative history and recent form
The original welterweight title fight remains the most financially successful contest in boxing history. It generated more than $600m (£475m) in overall revenue, including a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys.
The undefeated American has not fought professionally since stopping UFC star Conor McGregor inside 10 rounds in August 2017. Conversely, the eight-division world champion returned to the ring recently to secure a draw with Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title.
Tune-up fights expected
Both men are reportedly scheduled to return to the ring for exhibition bouts in April to build anticipation. Mayweather is expected to face Mike Tyson, while Pacquiao has announced he will take on former junior welterweight titlist Ruslan Provodnikov.
These exhibitions are intended to accelerate the promotional machine as Netflix prepares for the sequel in September.
