Mayweather-Pacquiao Rematch Doubt Grows as Netflix Eyes Replacement

Promoter says proposed September event faces uncertainty amid confusion over bout status

A proposed rematch between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao is now in doubt following confusion over whether the bout would be sanctioned. Promoter Eddie Hearn said he does not expect the fight to go ahead.

The bout had been announced earlier this year for September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas, with Netflix set to broadcast. It was pitched as a professional fight more than a decade after their 2015 meeting, but confusion over its status quickly followed. Mayweather said it would be an exhibition, while Pacquiao insisted it must be fully sanctioned.

Eddie Hearn now expects the fight will not go ahead.

“The whole thing is a mess. I’m surprised that Netflix got involved in the whole circus of it. Netflix is new to boxing, but they have got to be a bit more solid in a routine, because you can’t really announce a fight and it just falls by the wayside, it just doesn’t look great,” Hearn said to Fighthype.

Looking at how things are shaking out this week, it feels like Floyd is once again prioritizing that “0” over giving the fans a real closure to the rivalry. If he’s backpedaling into “exhibition” mode while Manny is training for a pro fight, the whole event loses its teeth.

Hearn said that a different fight is being lined up to take its place. “No, I don’t believe it will happen, not now. Netflix is only going to do so many fights, and the word is that they’re doing Benn-Garcia now on September 12 or whenever that is going to be, so that’s obviously the fight that is replacing Mayweather-Pacquiao.”

The proposed matchup between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn has gained traction in recent weeks, with talk of a WBC welterweight title fight. If that bout is finalized for Netflix, it would effectively close the door on any Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch plans.

By trying to protect a record that many already view as human, Mayweather might be losing the biggest platform boxing has seen in years.

Netflix doesn’t need the headache of a ‘is it real or not?’ debate. With Ryan vs. Benn gaining massive steam for August or September, they have a legitimate, sanctioned world title fight ready to go.

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