More than 10 years after their first meeting, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao are set to face each other again. The rematch is scheduled for September 19, 2026, at the Sphere in Las Vegas, a venue that will host its first-ever professional boxing fight on the night. The event is also expected to be streamed worldwide on Netflix.
There was a point, not too long ago, when it wasn’t entirely clear what kind of fight this would be. Mayweather had described it as an exhibition, which led to questions about whether it would count as an official bout. Pacquiao, on the other hand, took a different stance, saying the agreement in place was for a professional fight and that everything had already been signed. For a while, that difference in messaging created uncertainty around the event.
Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao 2 rematch edges closer
Now, though, things seem to have settled. The noise around whether it would be an exhibition or a professional contest has quieted, and the focus has shifted back to the fight itself. Both fighters appear to be moving forward with the understanding that the rematch will take place as planned.
Pacquiao, at 47, returned to the ring in 2025 after stepping away for four years. His comeback ended in a majority draw against Mario Barrios, a result that showed he could still compete, even after time away. Mayweather, now 49, followed with his own return announcement earlier this year. He hasn’t fought professionally since his win over Conor McGregor in 2017, although he has stayed visible through a series of exhibition bouts.
Their first fight in 2015 was one of the biggest events the sport has ever seen. Mayweather won that night by unanimous decision, but the numbers around the fight were just as significant. It pulled in millions of pay-per-view buys, set a record gate, and generated huge global revenue, making it one of the most commercially successful bouts in boxing history.
There are still a few details to be confirmed, including the weight class and how many rounds the fight will be contested over. Even so, with the earlier confusion now out of the way, attention has shifted fully to what happens when the two finally meet again.