More than 11 years after one of the most hyped and debated bouts in boxing history, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have officially agreed to a rematch. The fight is set for Sept. 25, 2026, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, according to Jas Mathur, CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions.
More than a decade after their first bout ended in controversy, the two boxing legends are heading back to Las Vegas for a professional rematch streaming live on Netflix. The announcement puts an end to months of rumors swirling around a possible second meeting between the two legends, and it gives boxing fans something they have wanted since the night the first fight ended in widespread disappointment back in May 2015.
What happened the first time they fought
Their original meeting, which took place on May 2, 2015, was billed as the Fight of the Century, but it failed to live up to the enormous expectations surrounding it. Mayweather controlled the bout throughout, winning by unanimous decision in a performance that left many fans feeling let down by the lack of action.
In the years that followed, Mayweather extended his professional record to a perfect 50-0 before stepping away from boxing. Pacquiao, 1, continued competing, going on to fight eight more times. His most recent outing ended in a draw against Mario Barrios, leaving his own legacy still very much in motion heading into this second chapter.
The fight will stream live on Netflix
One of the more notable aspects of this rematch is where fans will be able to watch it. The bout will be streamed live on Netflix, continuing the platform’s growing push into live sports and combat sports in particular. The move follows other high profile fights that have landed on streaming platforms in recent years, including Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Álvarez and Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson, 2 and 3 respectively in a string of major boxing events that have migrated away from traditional pay-per-view.
For a sport that has long relied on costly pay per view buys to reach audiences, the Netflix deal could open the door to millions of casual viewers who would not otherwise tune in.
The venue and date went through several changes
Settling on the T-Mobile Arena for Sept. 25 was not entirely straightforward. Earlier reports had suggested the fight might take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Sept. 26, and Netflix had initially announced The Sphere in Las Vegas on Sept. 19 as the intended venue. That plan was scrapped after it emerged that rock band the Eagles had a performance scheduled at The Sphere on that same date.
This will be a professional fight, not an exhibition
Some confusion emerged in the lead up to the official announcement, with suggestions from Mayweather’s camp that the bout might be structured as an exhibition rather than a sanctioned professional contest. Mathur addressed that directly, confirming that the signed contract designates this as a fully professional boxing match. Fans expecting a competitive bout with legitimate stakes can expect exactly that.
What to expect from two fighters in their late 40s
Mayweather is 49 years old, and Pacquiao is 47. Neither fighter is anywhere near the peak that defined their careers, and that reality is impossible to ignore. Still, the combination of their names, their history and the unresolved questions left over from 2015 is more than enough to generate serious interest from fans around the world.
Whether the two can produce a more compelling night than their first encounter remains to be seen. But with a confirmed date, a confirmed venue and a confirmed platform, the rematch that boxing has debated for over a decade is finally, undeniably real.
