Boxing icons Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao may be on course to rekindle their legendary rivalry, with reports suggesting a potential rematch could headline a major Netflix event in 2026.
Pacquiao, now 46 years old, ended his four-year hiatus from the sport in July, battling Mario Barrios to a draw in a highly-anticipated bout that had the WBC welterweight title up for grabs.
Meanwhile, Mayweather, 48, hasn’t fought professionally since defeating Conor McGregor by TKO in 2017 but has kept busy with a series of exhibition bouts against figures such as Logan Paul and John Gotti III.
The undefeated American had previously been linked to an exhibition match with Mike Tyson next spring. However, with no confirmed date for that encounter, fresh speculation suggests that Mayweather could instead face Pacquiao once again.
According to The Ring Magazine, discussions are ongoing to bring Mayweather and Pacquiao back into the ring, reigniting a rivalry that once captured the attention of the entire sporting world.
The matchup would see two of the most decorated fighters of their generation revisit their unfinished business, 11 years after their record-breaking first encounter in May, 2015.
Their first meeting at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas was billed as ‘The Fight of the Century.’ After years of failed negotiations, fans finally witnessed the two pound-for-pound greats share the same ring.
Many fans felt the long-awaited showdown arrived too late, with both fighters past their physical peak by the time they finally met. Nevertheless, they still tuned in for what followed.
Mayweather, then 38, used his trademark defence, precision counterpunching, and ring generalship to neutralise Pacquiao’s aggressive style, earning a unanimous decision victory on the judges’ scorecards: 118–110, 116–112, and 116–112.
While Mayweather’s performance was hailed by purists as a defensive masterclass, some fans criticised the bout for its lack of sustained action.
Although, it was later revealed that Pacquiao had suffered an injury to his right shoulder ‘three to four weeks’ before the fight took place.
He was said be having inflammatory injections prior to the bout, but was denied a shot on the eve of the biggest fight of his career.
Nonetheless, the fight shattered pay-per-view records, generating more than $400million in revenue and cementing both men’s status as global icons of the sport.
The rumoured rematch comes amid Netflix’s growing push into live sports broadcasting. The streaming giant made headlines earlier this year with the announcement of its first live boxing event, headlined by Mike Tyson and Jake Paul.
Netflix later showcased Katie Taylor’s trilogy clash with Amanda Serrano, broadcasting the historic all-female card live from Madison Square Garden.
Mayweather, 48, had reportedly agreed to an exhibition bout with 59-year-old Tyson, though details on that event remain unconfirmed. The possibility of a Pacquiao sequel could either replace or postpone that matchup, depending on negotiations and scheduling.
While no official confirmation has been made, insiders suggest preliminary talks are taking place to bring both fighters and their promotional teams to the negotiating table.
If finalised, the event would likely take place in Las Vegas – the same city that hosted their first showdown – though other major venues, including sites in the Middle East, are said to be under consideration.
