The Rematch the World Awaits: Mayweather and Pacquiao Back in the Ring

2026 seems to have prepared a real gift for boxing fans. Quite unexpectedly, it was revealed that the legendary Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are ready to have a rematch. Many boxing fans are pretty shocked by this news, like minimum deposit casinos players who had just hit the jackpot. Despite their advanced age, The Money and PacMan are still two of the most iconic personalities in boxing in the 21st century. That’s why their new appearance in the ring intrigues the audience so much. What can we expect from the sequel to the so-called Fight of the Century?

Mayweather vs Pacquiao I: huge commercial success, controversial ring action

The first Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao fight, which the media and the boxing world called the Fight of the Century, took place in 2015 in Las Vegas. Even then, many experts said the boxers should have met much earlier. By 2015, Floyd had already called a retirement once, and Manny had lost his peak form and suffered two heavy defeats. However, the fight that the whole world has been waiting for since 2008 still took place. And it became historical in its own way.

The sports component of Mayweather vs Pacquiao 1st fight was not very impressive. Floyd was in a much better shape and controlled the course of the fight in a signature conservative style, using his size and IQ. Pacquiao, who was no longer at his peak and had lost his speed, was also boxing with an injury. The judges' unanimous decision was a victory for Money. Score:

• 116–112
• 116–112
• 118–110

Experts and fans have heavily criticized the fight of the Century. Better never than late is how many described a boxing night in Las Vegas that was supposed to be great. The lawsuits some fans filed against Pacquiao and his team for concealing the injury did not make the fight famous either. At the end of the day, the court rejected the lawsuits because they were not materially different from the complaints of players who lose at minimum deposit casinos. Nevertheless, criticism from experts and lawsuits has tarnished the reputation of the fight.

However, from a commercial point of view, Mayweather vs Pacquiao I is by a huge margin the most successful event in the history of boxing. The fight has set several records unlikely to be broken in the near future. Key figures of Fight of the Century 2015:

• 4.6 million PPV
• $400 million gross revenue
• $370 million in bounties for fighters (220 million for Mayweather, 150 million for PacMan)
• $72.2 million from ticket sales

In Manny's homeland, the Philippines, half of the households watched the fight. It wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that even the most successful minimum-deposit casinos in the world can be jealous of the commercial success of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao I.

Mayweather vs Pacquiao II: what to expect from the rematch?

Speculations about a possible rematch began to arise almost immediately after the end of the first fight. First of all, it was Pacquiao who demanded a rematch, as he was fighting with an injury and generally put up decent resistance to Floyd. However, there were no constructive dialogues on this issue between the parties.

After the first fight with Pacquiao, Mayweather announced his retirement twice. First in 2015 after defeating Andre Berto, and then in 2017, when he defeated Conor McGregor, achieving a perfect 50-0 record and surpassing Rocky Marciano (49-0).

Pacquiao also had two retirements (2016, 2021) and two comebacks. He also became a prominent politician in the Philippines, but lost the presidential election a few years ago.

There was no serious context for a rematch, but Netflix found the words and the money. One of the world’s biggest streaming services has organized several exhibition fights in recent years that have attracted a lot of attention, including Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson and Jake Paul vs. Anthony Joshua. Netflix was also the broadcaster of the superfight between Canelo and Crawford.

On February 23, 2026, it was announced that Mayweather and Pacquiao would have a rematch in Las Vegas. This will be an official fight, meaning the fighters’ career records will be at stake. The fighters will face each other in the ring on September 19, 2026.

Pacquiao's motivation: revenge, a chance to make history, and money

The 47-year-old Pacquiao is in very good shape. In July 2025, he nearly wrestled the WBC welterweight title from Mario Barrios in Las Vegas. The fight ended in a draw. The rematch against Mayweather is an opportunity to prove he still has it and make history as the man who ruined Floyd's perfect record. There is no doubt that PacMan's motivation will be off the charts, especially considering the injury in the first fight.

Mayweather's Motivation: Money, money, money

Floyd Money Mayweather’s clear, and probably the only, motivation is money. The whole world has heard about the legend's luxurious lifestyle. For Floyd, betting a million dollars at a sportsbook or placing a $100,000 chip on zero at a minimum-deposit casino is a common routine. However, money tends to run out.

According to media reports, Mayweather is not at the peak of his financial capabilities right now. For example, he still hasn’t paid for several major purchases (expensive watches, several cars). The tax service also seized several of his commercial properties. Floyd had to sell his private jet and two villas. It is reported that the fiscal service requires him to pay $28 million in tax debt. For him, returning to boxing is a chance to solve financial problems.

Why can a rematch be good?

There is little doubt that the sequel will be less commercially successful and attract less interest than the first one did in 2015. However, the fight itself can be interesting. Despite being 96 years old combined, the fighters have retained their top skills and charisma. The PacMan vs. Barrios fight showed that the 47-year-old boxer’s speed and endurance would be the envy of many 35-year-olds. Mayweather has also continued to stay fit outside of boxing.

The main thing is that this time the expectations and pressure are lower. We can expect the fighter to swing with more freedom this time. They both understand that if they deliver top-class entertainment, they will earn a few more years of money-earning fights. It’s pretty obvious that the motivation of both is different from 2015.