The two biggest names of boxing’s previous golden era are officially set to run it back. Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao will meet for a highly anticipated, if controversial, rematch on September 19, 2026, at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
The development, first reported by ESPN’s Mike Coppinger and confirmed by DAZN Boxing, marks a historic milestone for the venue.
The 18,600-seat Sphere has quickly become the crown jewel of the Las Vegas Strip, and this bout will serve as its first major professional boxing event.
“A Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao rematch is being planned for September in Las Vegas, with The Sphere the possible venue,” Coppinger stated, signaling that the deal has moved from rumor to reality.
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Eleven years later
The first meeting in May 2015 remains the most financially successful event in combat sports history. Billed as the “Fight of the Century,” it generated over $400 million in revenue and moved a staggering 4.6 million pay-per-views.
While Mayweather secured a clear unanimous decision that night, the competitive fire of the era has since cooled into a lucrative nostalgia play.
More than a decade later, the statistics are as much about age as they are about athleticism:
- Floyd Mayweather: 49 years old
- Manny Pacquiao: 47 years old
Mayweather has remained active in the exhibition circuit, while Pacquiao last competed professionally in 2021, a loss to Yordenis Ugas.
With no belts on the line and no pound-for-pound titles at stake, the rematch is being positioned as a celebration of the sport’s “Big Bang” era.
Manny and Floyd Jr.: The business of memory
The choice of venue is no coincidence. Promoters are leaning heavily into The Sphere’s immersive screen technology and theatrical scale to augment the fight itself.
In an era where “experience” often outweighs pure competition, the venue’s visuals are expected to be as much of a draw as the fighters’ footwork.
While fan reaction is expected to be split-half welcoming the return of crossover legends and half questioning the necessity of a “pension fund” bout-the commercial logic is undeniable.
- Mayweather remains the sport’s premier revenue generator.
- Pacquiao’s global following hasn’t waned.
- The Sphere provides a premium, high-ticket environment that fits the “luxury event” branding.
In 2015, the fight was about legacy. In 2026, it appears to be about memory, and in Las Vegas, memory is a commodity that still sells at a premium.
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