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Eleven years after their first bout, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao are set to step back into the ring. The rematch of the most lucrative fight in boxing history, originally scheduled for 19 September at The Sphere in Las Vegas, will now take place on 26 September 2026 at the MGM Grand. This last-minute change brings back memories of the 2015 fight, which was also held at this very venue.
Date and venue changed just months before the event
The initial announcement, made in February 2026, had envisaged a clash at The Sphere, the futuristic $2.3 billion venue opened in 2023.
The initial announcement, made in February 2026, had envisaged a clash at The Sphere, the futuristic $2.3 billion venue opened in 2023. However, an Eagles concert scheduled for 19 September has forced the promoters to revise their plans. According to two sources close to the negotiations, cited by BoxingScene and reported by Boxemag, the fight is now set for Saturday 26 September, with a global broadcast on Netflix.
The MGM Grand is no coincidence. It was in this 17,000-seat arena that Mayweather fought twelve consecutive bouts between 2007 and 2015, including his points victory over Pacquiao in the ‘Fight of the Century’. It was also there that the Filipino faced Mario Barrios last year in a controversial draw. The venue is steeped in boxing history, and the two veterans will feel right at home there.
Mayweather in financial trouble, Pacquiao seeking revenge
At 49, Floyd Mayweather (50-0, 27 KOs) is coming out of retirement under tricky circumstances. The American, who had mentioned in March the possibility of a mere exhibition bout, has finally agreed to a professional fight. According to several US media outlets, financial difficulties are said to have prompted him to accept this fight, despite tensions surrounding a cash advance he had already received, as reported by Complex in early July.
His opponent, Manny Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs), aged 47, has never come to terms with his 2015 defeat. The Filipino, the only world champion across eight different weight classes, wants to become the first man to knock out ‘Money’ Mayweather. His comeback in 2025 against Barrios, although it ended in a draw, showed that he remains in remarkable physical condition for his age.
A clash of legends in pursuit of records
The first Mayweather–Pacquiao bout generated 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and a record-breaking revenue of $72 million. This time, the free broadcast on Netflix — a platform with 325 million subscribers — could shatter viewing figures. The Paul v Tyson fight currently holds the record with 108 million viewers; Mayweather v Pacquiao II could well surpass it.
One key question remains: will the spectacle live up to expectations? In 2015, the fight disappointed purists, with Mayweather imposing his impenetrable defence against a Pacquiao suffering from a shoulder injury. Eleven years on, both boxers have lost some speed but gained a sense of urgency. Mayweather is staking his unblemished legacy, whilst Pacquiao is fighting for redemption. One thing is certain: the MGM Grand hasn’t been buzzing like this for a very long time.
The date of 26 September is fast approaching, and with it the promise of an evening that extends far beyond the confines of the ring. For French viewers, the fight will be available at no extra cost on Netflix. It remains to be seen whether the two forty-somethings will manage to deliver a better performance than in their first bout. On 26 September, the boxing world will be holding its breath.