Join the Miguel Delaney Inside Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter to get exclusive access and unparalleled insight. Football Join the Miguel Delaney Inside newsletter Football In the first match, fans were criticized for waiting too long to see Mayweather fight Pacquiao. By 2008 it was clear that the pair had strong arguments to be viewed as boxing’s pound-for-pound star after claiming world titles at various weights.In 2009 negotiations were underway, although Mayweather purported that he was still retired following his victory over Ricky Hatton in 2007. Mayweather claimed that the fight wouldn’t happen because of disagreements regarding purse splits after his comeback victory over Juan Manuel Marquez. Negotiations restarted in 2009, but were halted due to a disagreement about drug testing. Mayweather renewed talks in 2012 only to have Marquez knock out Pacquiao and take away his star-power. The pair continued to exchange barbs on social media, allowing fans to hope for a fight. However, it took three years until a match was made in May 2015. Both boxers were clearly past their primes, and the fight was not very exciting. Mayweather’s defensive skills helped him to win a unanimous verdict. One judge gave a score of 118-110 and the other two judges were more conservative, giving 116-112 as their scores. Pacquiao put his subdued performance down to a shoulder injury; that, and the state of the bout, exacerbated by Mayweather’s willingness to clinch.Further controversy stemmed from Mayweather’s usage of IV fluids, a practice allowed by the US Anti-Doping Agency, but not approved by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, the governing body in charge of sanctioning the fight.Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of BoxingNever miss a fight from top promoters. You can watch on any device, anywhere and anytime. Buy NowADVERTISEMENT. We will receive commission if you subscribe to this service. The revenue generated by this service helps fund the journalism at The Independent.Enjoy over 185 fights every year on DAZN. The Global Home of BoxingNever again miss a top promoter’s fight. You can watch anywhere and anytime. Buy Now. This service will pay us a commission for signing up. Why would they want a rematch?open image in galleryMayweather defeated Manny Pacquiao in 2015 on points (AP)For Pacquiao it would be a chance to make up for a mistake he made over a decade earlier. Some of PacMan’s most memorable bouts were rematches, including his set of four fights with Marquez. Being the man to take away Mayweather’s bragging rights of having a perfect unbeaten 50-0 record would also be priceless for the Filipino icon. Mayweather has made countless references in the last 10 years to Pacquiao’s victory. He even hinted at a rematch in 2018, although he was already retired. Mayweather will be able to prove that he is the best boxer pound for pound of the 21st century by beating Pacquiao again. This would wash away any doubts. Mayweather made his entire personality dependent on his ability to generate money; Pacquiao’s political endeavours and attempts to bring his promotional company to the United States will also require investment.Is it all about money?Netflix have been alerted to the potential of boxing via Jake Paul of all people, the influencer-turned-boxer proving that big names can sell any fight. Paul, a cruiserweight who had been fighting professionally for over 20 years, faced off against Mike Tyson a heavyweight champion. The fight was watched by 65 million fans. Paul easily won the bout with a unanimous decision. For their parts in the fight, Paul reportedly earned $40million, whilst Tyson took home a smaller but still substantial $20million.Still, Mayweather and Pacquiao’s meeting in 2015 reportedly garnered $600million in revenue, highlighting the gulf in earning potential. Of course, Mayweather vs Pacquiao was a PPV, whilst Paul vs Tyson was available to subscribers at no extra cost.Purses and earnings would likely be closer to Paul and Tyson’s in 2024, so Mayweather and Pacquiao will need to decide whether it would be worth meeting in the ring once again for a significantly lower figure than their first fight.Will existing fight plans for both men be impacted?Pacquiao is actively looking for opponents to fight at the start of 2026. He’s been linked to WBA welterweight Rolly Romero and Britain’s Conor Benn. Pacquiao’s and Mayweather’s participation in high-profile fights could help build interest and demand for a rematch in 2026. All rights reserved.)Pacquiao continued fighting competitively for some years after Mayweather’s retirement; he has since returned to the ring after a four-year hiatus. PacMan’s performance in the summer against WBC champion Barrios was deemed enough for him to win the belt and take home the victory, but PacMan settled for a draw. Mayweather hasn’t completely retired from the ring, though. He has been in numerous exhibition matches this decade. It is possible that he influenced the rise of Misfits when he took on YouTubers Logan Paul & Deji Olatunji – brother of KSI. It is important to note that rematches rarely result in a different outcome. Mayweather’s defensive style proved a difficult proposition for Pacquiao in the first fight, and now the Filipino lacks the speed and power he once possessed.Do fans want to see it?There must be confidence that enough people would be interested in watching Mayweather and Pacquiao run it back if Netflix are exploring the possibility. Pacquiao remains a legendary figure in his home country of the Philippines, whilst American fight fans have proven they will watch high-profile boxing, with 41 million viewers tuning in for Terence Crawford’s shock victory over Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez is scheduled to fight in September. It remains to see if it will draw the same level of attention from casual sports fans. Pacquiao, Mayweather and other mainstream athletes have faded into obscurity in recent years. This is especially true for the United States. Pacquiao wants to face WBA welterweight title holder Romero next January. A belt could be on the line. It is unclear if the fight will still take place, as Pacquiao may be willing to risk losing to a lesser-known opponent in order to get a larger payday. Boxing purists are unhappy with how the sport caters to casual markets. Exhibition bouts and crossover boxing have become increasingly popular. Mayweather can attest to this – his 2017 fight with UFC superstar Conor McGregor was as one-sided a main event as it could be. If they feel confident about a high enough audience, they may ignore concerns over the quality. DAZN is home to combat sports and broadcasts more than 185 fights every year, from the best promoters in the world, such as Matchroom. Golden Boy, Misfits. PFL, BKFC. GLORY. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that’s just 64p / $1.21 per fight.
2025-10-29 13:00:08
Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2: Why now… and do fans really want to see it?
