By Nana Karikari, Senior Global Affairs Correspondent
Boxing icons Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have officially agreed to a professional rematch on September 19 at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The bout comes 11 years after their initial “Fight of the Century” and will be streamed live globally on Netflix. The event, produced by EverWonder Studio, Hidden Empire, and Limitless X Holdings, marks the first boxing match at the $2.3 billion (GH₵35.65 billion) Sphere.
A Rivalry Defined by History and Delay
The two fighters spent years as the top two pound-for-pound athletes in the world, with negotiations dating back to 2009 before being dogged by contractual disputes. When they finally met in May 2015, Mayweather won an underwhelming contest by unanimous decision. Despite the lack of ring action, the fight became the highest-grossing pay-per-view in history, generating $410 million (GH₵6.35 billion) in revenue and record ticket sales of $72.2 million (GH₵1.12 billion), surpassing the 2013 Mayweather–Álvarez mark with 4.6 million buys.
The Quest for a Perfect Record
Pacquiao, 47, has long sought to avenge that defeat, which he attributed to a shoulder injury. “Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history,” Pacquiao stated. “The fans have waited long enough — they deserve this rematch, and it will be even bigger now that it will be streamed live globally on Netflix.” The Filipino legend added, “I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him. As always, I dedicate this fight to my fellow Filipinos around the world and to bringing glory to the Philippines.”
Mayweather’s Legal and Financial Shift
Mayweather, 48, retired in 2017 with a 50-0 record after defeating Conor McGregor. His return to professional prize fighting follows a lawsuit filed this month against Showtime Networks and the former president of Showtime Sports, alleging an extended fraud scheme that denied Mayweather roughly $340 million (GH₵5.27 billion) in earnings. Addressing the rematch, Mayweather remained succinct: “I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result.”
Return from Retirement
Both men have stayed close to the sport. Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) returned from a four-year retirement last July following an unsuccessful run for Senate and a 2022 presidential bid in the Philippines. He most recently fought WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios to a majority draw. Pacquiao insists his return is driven by legacy rather than the obvious financial incentives. “It’s all I think about, and I really like to make history,” he said regarding his comeback.
Path to the Sphere
Before their September clash, both fighters have active schedules. Mayweather is slated to face Mike Tyson in an exhibition this spring. Meanwhile, Pacquiao is scheduled for an exhibition against Ruslan Provodnikov on April 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center. This rematch represents a massive “full-circle” moment for the sport. “We’re thrilled to combine their storied rivalry with the immersive technology of Sphere to deliver a landmark sporting event to our members worldwide,” said Gabe Spitzer, vice president of sports at Netflix.
