Nearly 11 years after their first meeting, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. may be heading back to the ring.
On Monday, October 27, Ring Magazine (via Sports Illustrated) reported that both fighters are in discussions for a potential rematch in 2026, with Netflix emerging as a possible broadcast partner.
The fight would mark more than a decade since their 2015 showdown in Las Vegas, where Mayweather defeated Pacquiao by unanimous decision. That win allowed Mayweather to retain his WBA, WBC, WBO, and The Ring welterweight titles, extending his professional record to 48-0 at the time.
While rumors of a second bout swirl, Pacquiao recently had high praise for his former rival. In an October 26 video shared by the International Boxing Federation, Pacquiao was asked to rank the top fighters across different aspects of the sport.
When it came to defense, jab, and footwork, he named Mayweather. Pacquiao credited Juan Manuel Márquez for boxing IQ and durability, Julio César Chávez as the best knockout artist, and Marco Antonio Barrera for personality. And when asked who the greatest boxer of all time is, Pacquiao pointed to himself.
The timing of Pacquiao’s comments adds weight to speculation about a rematch. The 46-year-old returned to competition in July, going the distance with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in a fight that ended in a draw. He also has plans to fight again in early 2026 on a Las Vegas card.
Mayweather, now 48, hasn’t fought professionally since 2017, when he closed his career at 50-0 with a TKO win over Conor McGregor. Since then, he has appeared in multiple exhibitions, including high-profile bouts against Logan Paul and Deji Olatunji.
Reports also indicate that Mayweather is in talks for another exhibition, this time against Mike Tyson in the spring of 2026.
Pacquiao, who was recently appointed Vice President of the International Boxing Association (IBA), has made it clear that if the matchup with Mayweather materializes, he wants it to be sanctioned as an official fight. “A real fight,” he said.