Floyd Mayweather Jr. returns from retirement to face Manny Pacquiao again in Las Vegas

After more than a decade, two of the greatest legends of modern boxing will face off again in a fight that promises to revitalize one of the most lucrative rivalries in sports history. Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. officially confirmed a new matchup that will reignite the passion of millions of fans around the world.

The event of the century: Las Vegas, September 2026

Netflix announced that this highly anticipated rematch will take place on September 19, 2026, at the Sphere in Las Vegas, Nevada. This will be the first professional boxing event held at this state-of-the-art venue, which will be broadcast worldwide via streaming platform. The production will be handled by EverWonder Studio, Hidden Empire, and Limitless X Holdings, while Manny Pacquiao Promotions and Mayweather Promotions, together with CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS, will be responsible for promoting the event.

Specific details such as weight class, number of rounds, and start time have not yet been revealed, but this information will likely generate speculation on social media in the coming months.

The legacy of 2015: when they first fought

The only previous professional encounter between the two fighters took place on May 2, 2015, in Las Vegas, where Floyd Mayweather Jr. won by unanimous decision over Pacquiao. Although the technical development of the fight sparked debates among experts, the event broke all imaginable financial records: it reached 4.6 million pay-per-view (PPV) buys in the U.S. alone and generated over $410 million in revenue, with a box office gross of $72.2 million. These figures remain among the highest ever recorded in boxing history.

“I already beat Manny Pacquiao once, and this time the result will be the same,” Mayweather stated in a release distributed by ESPN, making clear his confidence for this new chapter.

How Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao are approaching this rematch

Floyd Mayweather Jr., who recently turned 49, has confirmed his intention to come out of retirement after more than a decade of inactivity. The legendary boxer retired from professional boxing at age 40 in August 2017 after defeating UFC star Conor McGregor, leaving an undefeated record of 50 wins, 27 by knockout. However, he has remained active in exhibition bouts against figures like Logan Paul and John Gotti III, whom he also defeated.

Meanwhile, Manny Pacquiao also recently ended his retirement. In July 2025, the Filipino legend faced Mario Barrios, who at the time held the WBA welterweight title. The fight ended in a majority draw. “Pacman” has another exhibition scheduled for April 18 against Ruslan Provodnikov at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.

The partnership Mayweather has formalized with CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS marks a new chapter in his post-retirement career, promoting multiple matchups culminating in this historic rematch. Both legends, driven by financial success and renewed fan passion, are preparing for what could be one of the highest-grossing sporting events of the next decade.