Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Rematch on Netflix in Talks for 2026
By Eddie Sanchez
More than ten years after their record-breaking fight, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao may be preparing to reignite one of boxing’s most lucrative rivalries.
Discussions are reportedly underway for a Mayweather vs Pacquiao rematch, with Netflix exploring the possibility of hosting the fight sometime in 2026, according to sources from Ring Magazine.
When the two legends met in Las Vegas in May 2015, their clash drew an unprecedented 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and generated a live gate of $72 million, the highest in boxing history. Despite its immense commercial success, the fight itself left many fans underwhelmed, as Mayweather used his trademark defensive style to cruise to a decision victory and unify three welterweight titles.
Mayweather, now 48, hasn’t fought professionally since his 2017 TKO of Conor McGregor, though he has stayed active through a series of exhibition bouts. Pacquiao, 46, ended a three-year layoff this past July in a controversial draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. While the Filipino icon entered as the underdog, many observers believed he deserved the win after twelve competitive rounds.
Before his fight with Barrios, Pacquiao shared that he still wants a genuine rematch with Mayweather.
Although a rematch is being eyed for 2026, Pacquiao’s next outing could come sooner. The former eight-division champion is targeting a return in January, potentially against WBA welterweight titleholder Rolando “Rolly” Romero. That matchup, however, may be delayed since the WBA has ordered Romero to defend his belt against mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov first.
If Pacquiao secures a fight with Romero early next year and comes out victorious, a second showdown with Mayweather could set the stage for the oldest combined-age world title fight ever, at 96 years between them.
A sequel between the two boxing greats would almost certainly generate massive attention and revenue, especially with Netflix’s recent push into the sport. The streaming platform debuted in boxing with Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson and has since aired major events like Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford. Next month, Netflix will broadcast Paul’s bout against Gervonta Davis, signaling its continued commitment to high-profile, crossover boxing spectacles.
About The Author
