Boxing greats Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather agree rematch

Boxing greats Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have agreed a professional rematch in September.

Pacquiao, 47, and Mayweather, 48, will fight at Sphere in Las Vegas on Saturday, 19 September, with the bout live on Netflix.

Former world champion Mayweather announced he would come out of retirement for a fourth time last week.

It will be the American’s first professional fight since beating mixed martial arts fight Conor McGregor with a 10th-round technical knockout in 2017.

Filipino Pacquiao retired from the sport to focus on his political career in 2021 but returned to the ring last July to fight WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, who retained his title after a draw.

Mayweather and Pacquiao first met in 2015, in what was billed as the ‘Fight of the Century’ and remains the richest in boxing history.

It was Mayweather who emerged victorious, beating Pacquiao via a wide unanimous decision in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao said: “Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history.

“The fans have waited long enough. They deserve this rematch.

“I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him.”

Mayweather said: “I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result.”

Mayweather has won all 50-0 of his professional fights, with 27 coming by knockout.

He has had a string of exhibition bouts since retiring in 2017 and is scheduled to face Mike Tyson this year.

Pacquiao, who has 62 wins from his 73 bouts, said in October that the pair were close to agreeing a rematch – but added it was dependent on he and Mayweather being able to “understand each other”.

Their previous meeting in 2015 generated a record 4.6 million pay-per-view buys and a record live gate of $72m at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Full details regarding the undercard and ticket availability will be announced in the coming weeks.