The idea of a second fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao, more than a decade after their first historic showdown, is gaining traction again in boxing circles, fueled by renewed activity from both men and a major entertainment platform reportedly circling the project.
Mayweather, the undefeated American who retired from professional competition in 2017 with a 500 record, has stayed in the public eye with a series of high-profile exhibition bouts and announced plans for another such event this spring against Mike Tyson.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao, the Filipino icon and eight-division world champion, has also returned to the ring. After coming out of a multiyear retirement in 2025, he fought to a majority draw with top welterweight Mario Barrios.
The combination of these moves has revived speculation that the two former rivals could share the ring again, this time not just as a nostalgic spectacle but as a fully sanctioned professional fight.
Interest from a streaming powerhouse
Industry insiders cited by multiple outlets say one of the driving forces behind the renewed buzz is interest from a major streaming platform, Netflix, which has been exploring boxing events that could attract vast international audiences.
Often associated with blockbuster entertainment of every kind, Netflix‘s involvement, even in exploratory discussions, signals that this potential rematch is being viewed as a global media event, not merely a throwback moment for the sport.
That is a marked difference from the way boxing megafights were typically sold in the 2010s through cable pay-per-view systems.
Mayweather‘s and Pacquiao‘s original bout in 2015, held at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, was distributed through HBO and Showtime and remains one of the most lucrative fights in boxing history.
What the fighters are doing now
While the rematch remains unofficial, the activities of both Mayweather and Pacquiao show them staying active in and around the sport.
Mayweather‘s upcoming exhibition with Tyson continues a pattern of lucrative nonrecord contests he’s embraced since initially retiring from pro boxing.
Pacquiao, for his part, is preparing for another exhibition bout, a 10-round welterweight contest against former world champion Ruslan Provodnikov on April 18 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, his second ring appearance since returning from retirement.
That fight won’t count toward official records, but it keeps Pacquiao in competitive shape and in the conversation among fight fans.
His return to active boxing began with significant attention last year when he battled Barrios at the MGM Grand to a draw, a result that surprised many given his four-year layoff from the sport.
The original Mayweather–Pacquiao fight was billed as the “Fight of the Century,” and remains one of the most financially successful bouts in boxing history, drawing millions in pay-per-view buys and breaking revenue records.
Since then, talk of a rematch has popped up sporadically over the years, but has never progressed beyond speculation, until now.