Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has hinted that a long-awaited rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. is close to becoming reality — nearly a decade after their first encounter, famously dubbed “The Fight of the Century.”
The two icons of the sport last faced off in May 2015, with Mayweather earning a unanimous decision victory after twelve rounds. Pacquiao later revealed he had been dealing with a shoulder injury during that bout, telling the BBC in 2018 that he couldn’t “retire with peace of mind” after that defeat.
Now 46, Pacquiao announced this week that negotiations for a second showdown with Mayweather are well underway. Pacquiao also expressed renewed confidence heading into a potential rematch, noting that he is now fully recovered from the injury that hampered him ten years ago.
After hanging up his gloves in 2021, Pacquiao made a surprise comeback in July 2025 to challenge WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. Their bout ended in a majority draw, with Barrios retaining his belt.
Mayweather, 48, officially retired in 2017 after extending his professional record to 50-0 with a win over Conor McGregor. Since then, he has participated in several exhibition fights, and is currently slated to face Mike Tyson in another exhibition next year.
At a press conference held in the Philippines, Pacquiao confirmed that while talks with Mayweather’s team are ongoing, he is also considering other potential matchups.
“Right now we have a lot of negotiations about my next fight,” Pacquiao said. “There’s a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather. I’m waiting for the final negotiation.”
Both fighters are now approaching 50, and even their 2015 matchup came when each was already past his prime. Still, their first fight shattered pay-per-view and gate records, and a rematch could easily capture global attention once again — especially for Filipino fans eager to see Pacquiao rewrite the story.
