FIVE YEARS OF ARRANGED MAYWEATHER – PACQUIAO REMATCH
Changes in the boxing market, financial backing from Saudi Arabia, and the rise of Netflix brought two legends, Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao, back to the ring.
In 2015, Mayweather defeated Pacquiao by points, ending half a decade of controversy and generating over $600 million in total revenue – one of the most profitable events in boxing history.
Mayweather Lands A Punch To Pacquiao’s Face At The MGM Grand Garden Arena
Afterward, Mayweather refused a rematch and then defeated Conor McGregor, an MMA fighter who transitioned into boxing, in a fight that also brought in a huge sum of money, before retiring with a perfect record of 50 wins.
Despite leaving professional boxing, Mayweather continues to earn money through exhibition matches with boxers, MMA fighters, and celebrities. This year, the undefeated champion even reached an agreement to fight legendary Mike Tyson, 59, scheduled for April in Congo.
Meanwhile, Pacquiao, 47, retired in 2021 but returned to professional boxing last July, challenging for the WBC welterweight title and drawing with Mario Barrios (30).
Pacquiao’s return comes amidst a boxing boom fueled by money from Saudi Arabia, with the prominent role of Turki Alalshikh (Saudi Arabian Minister of Entertainment) and the Riyadh Season events. At the same time, Netflix entered the market with the ambition of becoming the “new home” for blockbuster fights – factors that are believed to have made Mayweather consider a comeback.
Jas Mathur, Who Had Close Ties To Both Fighters, Helped Arrange A Rematch Between Mayweather and Pacquiao
According to Jas Mathur, owner of the entertainment company Limitless, who has worked with Mayweather in various business roles for the past decade and last year took on the role of CEO of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, he was a key factor in facilitating the rematch agreement.
Mathur said that many parties had tried to arrange a rematch five years ago, but failed due to an inappropriate approach and too many intermediaries. “When information goes through too many layers, things easily become complicated. And most importantly, both Mayweather and Pacquiao have to genuinely want it,” he said.
He emphasized that the current context is vastly different from five years ago, when both had retired. Pacquiao’s return to professional fighting makes a huge difference. “Floyd sees that. He also wants to make an impact,” Mathur stated.
According to him, MMA has dominated in terms of appeal since 2020. But with the backing from Saudi Arabia, boxing has received a significant boost. “Floyd and Manny are both very competitive. They are A-list names and are part of what makes boxing what it is today. They want to prove that they can do it again and even generate bigger numbers for Netflix,” Mathur commented.
When Did The Negotiations Begin?
Specific negotiations began last August. By October, both fighters agreed to participate, and Netflix was approached shortly thereafter. On September 19th, Mayweather and Pacquiao will rematch at the Sphere Arena in Las Vegas, a facility valued at approximately $2.2 billion, based on their combined fighting achievements.
Since retiring, Mayweather has faced accusations of financial hardship, despite being the only boxer in history to have earned over $1 billion in fight fees. Business Insider reported he had borrowed $52 million and had outstanding debts.
Mathur denied this information. “Floyd doesn’t care about the press, whether positive or negative. If the whole world thinks he doesn’t have money, it doesn’t matter, because he knows what he has,” he said.
According to Mathur, Mayweather’s return is not driven by financial pressure. “Having more opportunities to earn money is never a bad thing. But he’s not in a position where he’s forced to do this. He can absolutely continue performing exhibition matches. There are always offers on the table,” he said.
Mike Tyson During His Fight Against Jake Paul at Arlington
Netflix first streamed live boxing in November, when YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul defeated Mike Tyson after eight rounds in a fight with a 30-year age difference. The event attracted approximately 108 million viewers.
Mathur believes the rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao will surpass that number. He considers Tyson a global legend, while Jake Paul has transformed from a social media star into a highly influential boxer. However, the majority of the previous event’s audience was concentrated in the US.
“With Manny and Floyd, you have a global audience. Manny brings the massive Asian market. Imagine the viewership numbers that could be achieved. That also helps Netflix increase subscribers and expand content in these regions. That’s where Netflix wants to grow,” Mathur said, predicting the rematch will definitely surpass 108 million views.
Ten years after their first fight, Mayweather and Pacquiao are returning not only for personal legacy reasons. This rematch is also a test for the boxing model in the streaming era, where global viewership can be just as important as results on the scorecard.
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