Why Pacquiao–Mayweather 2 Finally Came Together After Years of Failed Talks
For years, a rematch between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. seemed inevitable — and yet always out of reach.
According to Pacquiao and his promotional team, the long-anticipated sequel only came together when timing aligned, negotiations simplified, and the right platform emerged to deliver the fight on a global scale.
“This was a lot of work,” said Jazz Mathur, chairman and CEO of Limitless X Holdings, Inc. and CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions. “It took a lot of time. Manny tried — I wouldn’t say failed — but planted seeds. It just took the right time and the right team in place to be able to get it done.”
READ: Netflix officially announces Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 with date an
The rematch, scheduled for Sept. 19 in Las Vegas, will be streamed globally by Netflix, marking one of the streaming giant’s most significant moves into traditional professional boxing.
Years of Talk, Little Movement
Pacquiao and Mayweather first fought in May 2015 in what was billed as “The Fight of the Century.”
While Mayweather won by unanimous decision, the bout’s legacy remained divisive despite generating more than $600 million in total revenue and a record 4.4 million pay-per-view buys.
In the years that followed, speculation about a rematch never fully faded — but talks repeatedly stalled.
The Ring Magazine reported in October that the two sides were again in discussions, with a fall date targeted. Even then, Mathur said, the biggest challenge was not convincing the fighters but navigating the layers around them.
‘Too Many Chefs in the Kitchen’
Mathur said the most persistent obstacle was the number of intermediaries involved over the years — and how deals were presented.
“The biggest barrier is sometimes there are people in the way who don’t present the deal the right way or aren’t able to get it closed,” Mathur said. “A lot of times people look after themselves rather than looking after the fighters and what the fans want.”
He said negotiations often broke down when too many voices attempted to control the process.
“When you have too many chefs in the kitchen, it always spoils the food,” Mathur said.
According to Mathur, once talks narrowed to the right decision-makers — and with a clear vision for distribution — progress accelerated.
Pacquiao’s Return Reignites Talks
Another turning point came when Pacquiao returned to the ring last year after a brief retirement. In July, the 47-year-old challenged Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title in Las Vegas, earning a majority draw.
“Manny came out of retirement. He did a return pro fight,” Mathur said. “Obviously Floyd sees that.”
Mathur said Mayweather’s competitive nature played a role in reopening discussions.
“Floyd’s very competitive,” he said. “He feels he can come in and do the same thing. So why not give it that chance?”
Mayweather, who retired undefeated at 50-0, recently announced plans to return to boxing in a professional capacity after an April 25 exhibition bout against Mike Tyson, clearing another hurdle toward finalizing the deal.
Pacquiao confirmed that earlier talks failed in part because he was unwilling to participate in an exhibition bout.
“I didn’t want an exhibition,” Pacquiao said in a recent interview. “I want a real fight.”
Netflix’s Global Platform Seals It
Ultimately, Mathur said Netflix’s reach was the final piece.
“Netflix is a global phenomenon,” he said. “We’ll have hundreds of millions of people viewing this. There are so many additional opportunities that come out of it.”
Rather than relying on a traditional pay-per-view model, the fight will be available to Netflix subscribers worldwide, expanding its potential audience beyond boxing’s core fan base.
More than 11 years after their first meeting, Pacquiao and Mayweather are set to revisit one of boxing’s most enduring rivalries — not because of nostalgia alone, but because, this time, the deal finally came together the right way
