Fight of the Century! That’s what the showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao was called when it happened in May 2015. Financially, it lived up to the hype, generating over $600 million and breaking records with 4.6 million PPV buys. But inside the ring, the fight didn’t quite match the spectacle. It was criticized for lacking excitement, with some blaming Mayweather’s defensive approach and others citing Pacquiao’s shoulder injury.

For years, talk of a rematch has floated but never materialized. Mayweather retired in 2017 and has since focused on exhibitions, with one set against Mike Tyson next year. Pacquiao, meanwhile, made his professional return earlier this year after four years on the sidelines. Now, over a decade later, Ring Magazine reported that Netflix is exploring a potential rematch between the two legends. However, despite the nostalgia, fan enthusiasm appears muted.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao 2 sounds good to Claressa Shields

After Ring Magazine posted on X about the potential rematch, the announcement was quickly met with backlash. Fans flooded the comments section with reactions like, “Nobody wants to watch two old men fighting,” and, “I promise you we didn’t ask for this fight.” Fast forward to today, Marcos Villegas of Fight Hub TV asked his followers for their thoughts on Netflix’s plans. While fan sentiment largely remained the same, the discussion caught the attention of three-division undisputed champion Claressa Shields.

“Why not! I’d like to see it,” Shields responded on X, effectively silencing the naysayers. Notably, the 48-year-old Mayweather last fought in August 2024 against John Gotti III, while Manny Pacquiao, now 46, faced WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in July—a bout that ended in a controversial draw. Still, Netflix has carved a niche for itself by hosting unconventional boxing events, with some major matchups in the mix. Last year, the streaming giant aired the highly publicized Jake Paul vs. Mike Tyson fight. 

It also broadcast the blockbuster Canelo Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford bout in September and is set to showcase the unique exhibition between Jake Paul and Gervonta Davis on November 14. With Netflix’s massive global reach spanning over 30 countries—and the enduring star power of Mayweather and Pacquiao—the rematch would almost certainly draw huge numbers if it comes to fruition. 

While neither fighter has spoken about Netflix’s plans for a rematch, ‘Pac-Man’ has previously made bold claims about the fight. 

Manny Pacquiao claims Floyd Mayweather has been avoiding him

Netflix might be thinking about the rematch now, but Manny Pacquiao has been asking for it for years. Back in July this year, before Pacquiao’s controversial draw against Mario Barrios, he appeared in an interview on The Ariel Helwani Show, where he expressed his interest in the fight and claimed Mayweather was avoiding him. 

“Of course [I’d be interested]. He’s been ducking [the rematch]. I don’t want an exhibition with [Mayweather], I want a real fight,” he said. Although Mayweather won their first exchange, Pacquiao insists that there’s unfinished business. “It’s been a long time [since the first fight]. I want to give the fans a good fight between me and [Mayweather], but he’s been avoiding me.”

From the looks of things, a rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has come closer to happening than ever before. But will they sign the contract? Only time will tell, until then, what do you make of the rematch?