The Fight Nobody Asked For: Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao 2

 Eleven years after the so-called “Fight of the Century” that felt more like the Fight of the Overhyped, Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao are doing it again. September 19, 2026, at the Sphere in Las Vegas. Streaming globally on Netflix. The first professional boxing match ever held in that glowing tech orb.

The posters look slick. The press releases scream, "legends renew their rivalry." The casual fans are already scrolling past. Because let’s be honest: this is the fight nobody asked for.

Back in 2015, the world did beg for Mayweather-Pacquiao. It was delayed for five years by money, egos, and “shoulder injuries” that conveniently appeared right after the contracts were signed. When it finally happened on May 2, 2015, it set every PPV record imaginable, drew 4.6 million buys, and generated over $600 million. Mayweather won a lopsided unanimous decision, improved to 48-0, and promptly reminded everyone why he’s called “Money”, by cashing the biggest check in combat sports history while Pacquiao complained about a bum shoulder that somehow didn’t stop him from throwing 500+ punches.

Now? Mayweather is 48, coming off a nine-year “retirement” that was really just a series of lucrative exhibitions against Logan Paul, Tenshin Nasukawa, and whoever else had a wallet. Pacquiao is 47, fresh off a majority draw with Mario Barrios in 2025 and an upcoming exhibition against Ruslan Provodnikov in April. Both men have already booked April exhibitions (Mayweather vs. a 59-year-old Mike Tyson in the Congo, no less). Then, five months later, they’ll lace ’em up for real, or as real as two middle-aged millionaires can make it.

Nobody was clamoring for this sequel. Boxing Twitter isn’t exploding with “finally!” memes. The hardcore fans who lived through the original saga are mostly rolling their eyes. The first fight was already too late; this one is comically past its expiration date. It’s like watching Rocky Balboa fight Ivan Drago again in 2026, technically possible, financially irresistible, spiritually bankrupt.

Now? Mayweather is 48 (turning 49 this month), coming off a nine-year “retirement” that was really just a series of lucrative exhibitions against Logan Paul, Tenshin Nasukawa, and whoever else had a wallet. Pacquiao is 47, fresh off a majority draw with Mario Barrios in 2025 and an upcoming exhibition against Ruslan Provodnikov in April. Both men have already booked April exhibitions (Mayweather vs. a 59-year-old Mike Tyson in the Congo, no less). Then, five months later, they’ll lace ’em up for real, or as real as two middle-aged millionaires can make it.

Nobody was clamoring for this sequel. Boxing Twitter isn’t exploding with “finally!” memes. The hardcore fans who lived through the original saga are mostly rolling their eyes. The first fight was already too late; this one is comically past its expiration date. It’s like watching Rocky Balboa fight Ivan Drago again in 2026, technically possible, financially irresistible, spiritually bankrupt.