Admit it.
When news broke out that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather are going at it one more time this September, your heart raced and you began conjuring up images of what’s likely to happen.
Well, can’t blame you.
Even more than 11 years after they first met — when a not-so-healthy Pacquiao was outpointed by Mayweather at the MGM Grand — this pairing remains mouthwatering.
Simply, there is unfinished business between the two fighters who dominated the sport for over two decades.
Mayweather enters the rematch with an immaculate 50-0-0 win-loss-draw record with 27 knockouts and his self-proclaimed tag as The Best Ever (TBE).
Years after beating Pacquiao, who fought with an injured hand, Mayweather brushed off offers to face the Filipino southpaw for the second time, saying the rematch would give the same result.
Pacquiao tried his best to secure another date and in the years that followed after their May 2015 showdown at the MGM Grand, the camps of the newly-inducted Hall of Famer and TBE went back and forth attempting to get a deal in place.
With fight fans still desiring a rematch, Netflix finally entered the scene and pulled it off.
Pacquiao, 47, and still rock-solid with a 62-8-3 mark with 39 knockouts, has vowed to hand Mayweather his first loss.
“Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history. The fans have waited long enough — they deserve this rematch, and it will be even bigger now that it will be streamed live globally on Netflix. I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him. As always, I dedicate this fight to my fellow Filipinos around the world and to bringing glory to the Philippines.”
Mayweather, who turned 49 on Tuesday, insists the second meeting is going the same way as the first.
“I already fought and beat Manny once. This time will be the same result,” said the brash American, who warned a staggering $250 million the first time as the match generated $600 million in revenue.
The pay-per-view subscriptions hit 4.6 million while the gate grossed another record amounting to $72 million.
But Pacquiao’s camp believes a lot of things have changed in more than a decade.
“His record’s gonna be 50-1,” Sean Gibbons, who runs Manny Pacquiao Promotions (MPP), said just hours after Netflix made the announcement.
“Earlier in my career, I spent weeks in Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao’s training camps in Las Vegas and the Philippines. It was undeniable that they were the two hardest workers in boxing, and their wins and accolades were a product of that,” said Gabe Spitzer, Netflix vice president of Sports.
“Bringing this rematch to Netflix is a massive ‘full-circle’ moment. We’re thrilled to combine their storied rivalry with the immersive technology of Sphere to deliver a landmark sporting event to our members worldwide,” he added.
“This isn’t just a rematch. It’s unfinished business. As a partner to both Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, and on behalf of Manny Pacquiao Promotions alongside Limitless X Holdings, I want to thank Netflix for stepping up and giving boxing fans what they’ve demanded for years. I also want to thank Jason Aniel — who worked alongside the rest of our great partners to help bring this across the finish line on behalf of Manny Pacquiao. Two legends. Two styles. One final chapter the world has been waiting for,” Jas Mathur, who runs MPP, said.
Pacquiao and Mayweather’s promotional teams are joining hands once again in partnership with CSI Sports/FIGHT SPORTS and the mega event will be produced by EverWonder Studio, Hidden Empire and Limitless X Holdings.
Mark the date: 19 September
The venue: Sphere in Las Vegas.