In 2015, Mayweather defeated Pacquiao by points, concluding half a decade of debate and generating over 600 million USD in total revenue – one of the most profitable events in boxing history.

Floyd Mayweather (left) lands a punch on Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, USA on 2/5/2015. *AP*

After that, Mayweather declined a rematch. He then defeated Conor McGregor, an MMA fighter who crossed over to boxing, in a fight that also brought a huge payday, retiring with a perfect 50-0 record.

Although retired from professional competition, Mayweather continues to earn through exhibition matches against boxers, MMA fighters, and celebrities. This year, "The undefeated" also reached an agreement to fight legend Mike Tyson, 59, scheduled for April in Congo.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao, 47, retired in 2021 but returned to professional competition last July, challenging for the welterweight belt and drawing with Mario Barrios (30).

Pacquiao's return aligns with a boxing boom, driven by Saudi Arabian investment. Turki Alalshikh, Saudi Arabian Minister of Entertainment, and the Riyadh Season events play a key role. Simultaneously, Netflix entered the market, aiming to host major fights. These factors are influencing Mayweather's potential comeback.

Jas Mathur, who has close ties with both fighters, helped arrange the rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao. *Sun*

According to Jas Mathur, owner of Limitless entertainment company, who has worked with Mayweather in various business capacities for the past decade and last year assumed the CEO position at Manny Pacquiao Promotions, he was a key factor in advancing the rematch agreement.

Mathur stated that many parties attempted to arrange a rematch five years ago but failed due to an unsuitable approach and too many intermediaries. "When information passes through too many layers, things easily become complicated. And most importantly, both Mayweather and Pacquiao must genuinely want it", he said.

He emphasized that the current context is vastly different from five years ago, when both had retired. Pacquiao's return to professional competition made a significant difference. "Floyd saw that. He also wants to make an impact", Mathur stated.

According to Mathur, since 2020, MMA once dominated in appeal. But with backing from Saudi Arabia, boxing has received a significant boost. "Floyd and Manny are both very competitive. They are A-list names and are part of what shapes boxing today. They want to prove they can do it again and even generate larger numbers for Netflix", Mathur observed.

Specific negotiations began last August. By October, both fighters agreed to participate, and Netflix was approached shortly after. On 19/9, Mayweather and Pacquiao will rematch at the Sphere arena in Las Vegas, a venue valued at approximately 2,2 billion USD. This fight will count towards both their professional records.

Since retiring, Mayweather has faced allegations of financial difficulties, despite being the only boxer in history to earn over 1 billion USD from fight purses. Business Insider reported he borrowed 52 million USD and still has outstanding debts.

Mathur denied this information. "Floyd doesn't care about the press, whether positive or negative. If the world thinks he has no money, it doesn't matter, because he knows what he has", he said.

According to Mathur, Mayweather's return is not driven by financial pressure. "Having more opportunities to make money is never a bad thing. But he is not forced to do this. He could absolutely continue with exhibition fights. There are always offers on the table", he stated.

Mike Tyson (right) in his fight against Jake Paul in Arlington, Texas on 15/11/2024. *AP*

Netflix first broadcast live boxing in November, when YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson after 8 rounds, in a fight with an age difference of over 30 years. The event attracted approximately 108 million views.

Mathur believes the rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao will surpass this number. He assessed Tyson as a global legend, and Jake Paul as a social media star who became an influential boxer. However, most of the audience for the previous event was concentrated in the USA.

"With Manny and Floyd, you have a global audience. Manny brings the populous Asian market. Imagine the viewership numbers that could be achieved. That also helps Netflix increase subscribers and expand content in these regions. That's exactly where Netflix wants to grow", Mathur said, predicting the rematch will certainly exceed the 108 million viewership mark.

Ten years after their first encounter, Mayweather and Pacquiao are not returning solely for personal legacy. This rematch is also a test for the boxing model in the streaming era, where global viewership numbers could be as important as the scorecard results.

The Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight in 2015.

Compiled by Hong Duy