The rematch nearly a decade in the making is finally set. Manny Pacquiao will get his long-awaited shot at redemption against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on September 19 at the iconic Sphere in Las Vegas, streaming globally on Netflix. For Pacquiao, this isn’t just another fight it’s unfinished business.
Back in 2015, Pacquiao and Mayweather delivered one of the biggest events in boxing history. But inside the ring, it was Mayweather who controlled the action, earning a unanimous decision and preserving his undefeated record. Now, at 47, Pacquiao believes the sequel carries even more weight.
“This is the most important fight of my career,” Pacquiao has indicated in recent media appearances a bold statement for a fighter whose résumé already includes world titles across eight divisions.
While preparing for his rematch, Pacquiao didn’t shy away from fantasy matchmaking and his most intriguing take involved Terence Crawford. Speaking on Inside The Ring on DAZN, Pacquiao said he believes Crawford would have defeated Mayweather if both fought in their primes. “I think Crawford beats Mayweather… He has the advantage as a southpaw. He mastered it,” Pacquiao said.
Crawford’s ability to seamlessly switch stances and control range has made him one of the most technically complete fighters of his era and in Pacquiao’s eyes, that versatility could have been the key to solving Mayweather’s defensive brilliance.
Despite the hypothetical debate, Crawford himself has consistently shown respect toward Mayweather. Following his historic win over Canelo Alvarez to become undisputed at super middleweight, Crawford dismissed comparisons between the two. “That’s the GOAT… He paved the way for me,” Crawford said.
Both fighters dominated separate eras. Mayweather retired in 2017 at 50-0 after defeating Conor McGregor, while Crawford’s rise to welterweight stardom began shortly after, capturing a title in 2018. The timing simply never aligned.
The Fight That Never Happened
Interestingly, Pacquiao and Crawford themselves were once on a collision course. Both fighters spent years under Bob Arum at Top Rank, but the fight was never finalized. Arum later admitted he hesitated to make the bout, citing concerns over Pacquiao’s long-term health against a prime Crawford.
It remains one of boxing’s biggest “what ifs.”
Pacquiao’s Fantasy Picks
Pacquiao didn’t stop at Crawford-Mayweather. He also offered predictions on several dream matchups:
- Shane Mosley over Shakur Stevenson
- Naoya Inoue over Juan Manuel Marquez
- Devin Haney over Antonio Margarito
- Oscar De La Hoya over Ryan Garcia
Legacy on the Line
For Mayweather, the rematch is about preserving perfection. For Pacquiao, it’s about rewriting history.
And for boxing, it’s another massive spotlight moment this time inside one of the most futuristic venues in the world, with the global reach of Netflix behind it. September 19 won’t just be a fight. It’ll be closure.
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Robert LaMar is a Deputy Editor for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
