Mayweather-Pacquiao II moving out of Sphere, to remain in Las Vegas

The Floyd Mayweather Jnr vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch is in the process of shifting the bout from The Sphere in Las Vegas to an MGM-affiliated venue, either T-Mobile Arena or MGM Grand Garden Arena, an official familiar with the switch told BoxingScene Wednesday.

The individual added that the date for the anticipated follow-up bout to the most lucrative prizefight in history said it may also change, from September 19 to mid-August.

Netflix is streaming the bout that will be contended as a professional match that will count as a win or loss for either Mayweather, 50-0, or Pacquiao, 62-8-3.

“It made no sense to put it at The Sphere – it’s not connected to a casino,” said the official, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the evolving talks.

In addition to offering ticket packages to high-roller gamblers at its multiple properties along The Strip, MGM routinely stages fight-week events for its frequent run of high-profile boxing cards such as Saturday’s Cinco de Mayo weekend card at T-Mobile Arena.

Officials at Madison Square Garden-owned Sphere and at MGM did not immediately respond to questions on the matter from BoxingScene Wednesday.

T-Mobile Arena presently has the iHeart Radio event on its schedule September 19, but the venue is open on August 15 – the window when the official said the bout could be rescheduled.

The official said ticket buyers should avoid any ticket brokers advertising tickets for Mayweather-Pacquiao 2 at The Sphere, saying “it’s one million percent not happening there.”

Mayweather defeated Pacquiao by unanimous decision in their first bout in 2015.

Pacquiao, 47, fought Mario Barrios to a draw in July for the WBC welterweight title, and Mayweather, 49, will participate in a June 27 exhibition fight.