Netflix bout expected to count officially after talks move from Sphere to MGM Grand
Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao are expected to meet September 26 in Las Vegas. The rematch is set to count as an official professional fight on both records.
BoxingScene’s Lance Pugmire reported Thursday that two officials close to negotiations expect the fight to move forward later in the month after talks shifted away from The Sphere, which had originally been discussed for September 19.
“Two officials close to the negotiations told BoxingScene on Thursday night that the rematch of the most lucrative prizefight in history will take place on September 26 on Netflix… BoxingScene reported last week that the fight… was moving away from The Sphere in Las Vegas, with that Madison Square Garden-owned arena filling the previously scheduled September 19 vacancy with an Eagles concert.”
One connected official also told BoxingScene that both camps had already agreed to all conditions for the fight.
The original 2015 bout at MGM Grand ended with Mayweather defeating Pacquiao by unanimous decision in one of the biggest pay-per-view events in boxing history.
The rematch had originally been linked to The Sphere in Las Vegas before scheduling conflicts forced discussions toward the MGM Grand later in the month. The September 19 date became unavailable after the venue finalized an Eagles concert during that weekend.
Questions also remained earlier this year about whether the fight would be handled as an exhibition. Mayweather himself suggested in March that the event might not count officially before negotiations later shifted toward a professional bout.