What to know about Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao rematch

Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are set to reunite in May 2015, more than 11 years after their first performance. The rematch is scheduled for September 19. at the Sphere in Las Vegas and will stream on Netflix.

it will mark Mayweather’s first professional fight Since he stopped former UFC champion Conor McGregor in August 2017. Pacquiao, meanwhile, has remained far more active. Since their first meeting with Mayweather, they have fought eight times, compiling a record of 5–2–1.

Mayweather, who turns 49 today, Announced last September He will face former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, 59, in an exhibition bout scheduled for spring 2026. Pacquiao, 47, retired in August 2021 after a decision loss to Yordenis Ugas, but returned last July to challenge then-WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. fight for majority. He also has an exhibition scheduled, a bout against former welterweight champion Ruslan Provodnikov on April 18 In Las Vegas.

Mayweather and Pacquiao are both in their prime, yet the rematch could prove to be more entertaining than their first meeting. After dropping a unanimous decision in 2015, Pacquiao revealed that he had suffered a shoulder injury during training camp that hindered his performance.

“The main thing people want to know is this is not an exhibition, this is a real fight,” Manny Pacquiao Promotions president Sean Gibbons told ESPN on Monday. “Nobody is buying the Floyd Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao exhibition. Nobody wants to see it. They want to see these two guys – who are very competitive with each other – fighting for a winner. The whole key to the event is that the fight is a real fight, not an exhibition.”

Here’s why this fight is happening now — and what fans can realistically expect from the long-awaited grudge match.

Why are Mayweather and Pacquiao fighting again now?

Although Mayweather and Pacquiao are now 49 and 47 years old respectively, there has been a sea change in the boxing landscape that makes a rematch more attractive than ever, a decade after their first meeting.

And jake paul Responsible to a great extent.

Paul’s clash with 2024 Mike Tyson pulled one huge audience There are 108 million live global viewers on Netflix. With so many people tuning in to see the YouTuber-turned-boxer take on the then-58-year-old former heavyweight champion, the floodgates would be opened for a similar matchup in which fighters could earn big bucks regardless of how many pay-per-views they sell.

It was always going to be difficult to sell a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao rematch after their initial meeting in 2015. Broke pay-per-view and gate recordsThe fight itself underperformed as Mayweather cruised to a wide and uneventful unanimous decision. Pacquiao attempted a comeback, but Mayweather didn’t need it. He walked off into the sunset just two years after his fight with MMA superstar Conor McGregor.

Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) announced in the fall that he was coming out of retirement to face Tyson in an exhibition in April, and has now changed his stance of not facing Pacquiao again. A big reason for this is the huge amount of money the fight will generate, and another factor is that it is the best option for Mayweather to earn a payday against a young superstar in his prime without risking his undefeated record.

And Netflix has now gotten into combat sports – following last year’s Paul vs. Tyson boxing matchup was a huge successAnd last week the streaming service got locked Another dream fight between retired fightersformer mma champion Ronda Rousey And gina carano – Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2 could reach new heights.

While both fighters are approaching the age of 50, their names still hold significant significance. Netflix’s marketing machine will ensure that this fight will maximize its viewership and be the biggest boxing event of the year.

What happened the last time Mayweather and Pacquiao fought?

Mayweather-Pacquiao 1 happened about five years too late After several unsuccessful negotiations, which failed on every issue from drug testing to purse division. During that delay, Pacquiao went from an unbeatable force to a weakened veteran who suffered a stunning Decision loss to Timothy Bradley Jr. And a shocking knockout Lost to Juan Manuel Marquez in his four fights. By the time Mayweather and Pacquiao finally stepped into the ring in 2015, it was clear that Mayweather was still operating at a high level – with victory Above canelo alvarez and twice against Heavy Puncher Marcos Maidana – While Pacquiao was not the force of nature who dominated the sport from 2005 to 2011. Nevertheless, the promotion was undeniable and led to a record-breaking night, with the event breaking several boxing records with a gate of $72.2 million and revenue of $410 million from 4.6 million pay-per-view buys. The fight itself was a one-sided affair with Mayweather controlling it with a vintage performance from the opening bell behind a flurry of blows. Scorecard indicated lack of drama mayweather won 118-110, 116-112 and 116-112.

Pacquiao complained after this Shoulder injury during training camp He was interrupted in the fight and demanded a rematch. Till now he was refused.

What can we expect from the rematch?

it’s hard to say. Mayweather has not fought against an opponent with legitimate boxing pedigree since facing Andre Berto in 2015. Since then, he has faced an MMA fighter (McGregor) and played exhibition bouts against YouTubers (Logan Paul and Daisy Olatunji), a reality TV personality (Aaron Chalmers), the grandson of a notorious mafia boss (John Gattis III), a boxing journeyman (Don Moore) and a kickboxer. (Tenshin Nasukawa) Over the past decade. And while he has always been in excellent physical shape, age will certainly have some effect on his abilities.

Since losing to Mayweather, Pacquiao has been more active over the past few years with wins over Adrien Broner, Keith Thurman, Lucas Matthysse, Jessie Vargas and Bradley. He has also lost to Jeff Horn and Yordenis Ugas, with his last fight being a majority draw against Barrios. He is no longer the whirlwind of punches that used to vanquish opponents nearly two decades ago, but he is still in exceptional shape at the age of 47.

Although neither fighter will be at their physical peak, when the age comes they will be on equal footing, making for an entertaining fight. However, if Mayweather is anywhere near the same defensive wizard and brilliant ring tactician as he was when he defeated Pacquiao in their first meeting, the fight could be another waste. But if there is any substance to Pacquiao’s claim that an injured shoulder hampered him in the first fight, it is possible that he will produce a better offensive performance.

Will there be drug testing for this fight?

There is currently no information available regarding drug testing for the fight. ESPN contacted the Nevada State Athletic Commission Monday night and is awaiting a response.

Who is promoting this fight?

The fight will be co-promoted by Manny Pacquiao Promotions and Mayweather Promotions in partnership with CSI Sports/Fight Sports, which signed a multi-year deal with Mayweather upon his announcement that he would be resuming his professional career.

Have there been any other sporting events in the Sphere?

The $2.3 billion entertainment venue near the Las Vegas Strip, with its circular design and immersive video and audio capabilities, has been used mostly for concerts since opening in 2023. But the UFC held its Noche UFC pay-per-view event on September 14, 2024, featuring a championship fight between. sean o’malley And merab dvalishvili. According to the UFC, the production cost of the event was over $20 million. UFC CEO Dana White said it was “one more thing done.” To date, it is the only sporting event held at the Sphere.

What will this fight hold in revenue, and what will the purses be?

It’s not yet known how much each fighter will make – or even how their respective deals are structured – and it may be some time before those figures are released. However, Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 could break the record as the most watched sporting event of all time, which is currently held by Paul-Tyson with 108 million global viewers. This rematch could also help improve the huge gate from their last fight.

Mayweather-Pacquiao 1 still holds the record for the largest Las Vegas gate in boxing history with $72.2 million. Mayweather is also in second place with $55.4 million in ticket sales for his fight against McGregor.

As far as the purse is concerned, Mayweather reportedly earned between $200-$250 million For the first Pacquiao fight while “Pacman” grossed approximately $120-$150 million. It is possible that their purse may fall in the same area given the expected high cost of tickets. Ticket prices for the UFC’s venture into the Sphere ranged from $674 to $44,000. The average ticket price ranges between $1,000-$3,000. Face value tickets for Mayweather-Pacquiao 1 ranged from $1,500 to $7,500, but some floor seat tickets went for over $22,000 on the secondary market.

Simply put, there is a lot of money to be generated for this fight.