Manny Pacquiao vs Mayweather 2 a Sure Thing? Pacquiao Says He Wants Floyd 'Forever Haunted' by One Loss

Streaming giant, Netflix, has confirmed that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will meet in a professional boxing rematch on 19 September 2026. This announcement follows years of speculation regarding a second encounter between the two former multi-weight world champions. The bout is scheduled to take place in Las Vegas, over a decade after their first record-breaking meeting in 2015.

The event will be staged at the Sphere, the high-tech immersive venue that has become a landmark of the Las Vegas skyline. This marks the first major professional boxing match to be hosted at the arena, with the venue expected to provide a unique visual backdrop for the global broadcast. Unlike traditional boxing events, the match will be available to Netflix subscribers worldwide without an additional pay-per-view fee.

During their initial encounter in 2015, Mayweather secured a unanimous points victory with scores of 116–112 and 118–110. CompuBox statistics from that evening recorded Mayweather landing 148 of 435 punches, while Pacquiao connected with 81 of 429. For the rematch, Pacquiao has publicly stated his intention to inflict the first defeat on Mayweather's professional record, noting that he wants his opponent to be 'forever haunted' by the result.

A Landmark Agreement for Live Sports

The partnership with Netflix represents a significant shift in the commercial landscape of combat sports. By moving away from the traditional pay-per-view model, the organisers expect to reach a significantly larger audience than the 4.6 million people who purchased the 2015 fight. Gabe Spitzer, Vice President of Sports at Netflix, described the deal as a 'full circle' moment, noting that the platform is thrilled to combine a storied rivalry with the immersive technology of the Sphere.

For Mayweather, who is now 48 years old, the fight represents a calculated risk to his legacy. Although he has not fought in a professional capacity since 2017, he has remained active through a series of high-profile exhibitions. Mayweather responded to his opponent's comments with characteristic confidence, stating that he expects the same result as their first meeting.

Preparations and Preliminary Bouts

Both fighters have scheduled exhibition matches in April to prepare for the September showdown. Pacquiao, aged 47, is set to face former champion Ruslan Provodnikov in a 10-round exhibition on 18 April, according to Sports Illustrated. This follows his recent competitive performance in 2025, where he secured a draw against Mario Barrios.

Mayweather has tentatively agreed to a high-profile exhibition against heavyweight legend Mike Tyson on 25 April. The bout is expected to take place in the Democratic Republic of Congo, returning a major boxing event to the country for the first time since the 1974 'Rumble in the Jungle.' Promoters have branded the event as a 'Legend vs Legend' showcase, though it will not count towards the professional records of either participant.

Implications for the Professional Record

The 19 September bout is being sanctioned as a professional contest, meaning the result will impact the official records of both men. For Pacquiao, the match offers an opportunity to rectify what he considers a missed chance in their first meeting, which he lost via a unanimous points decision. He has suggested that the primary motivation is to end Mayweather's claim of being 'The Best Ever.'

The financial implications of the fight remain substantial, with both men expected to earn significant purses through the Netflix deal. Despite the age of the protagonists, the rematch is currently the most discussed story in combat sports for 2026. The outcome will result in either the continuation of Mayweather's undefeated legacy or a career-defining victory for Pacquiao.