Taylor Hendricks with the 2 Pt, 02/23/2026 - Yahoo Sports Canada — and more

The seeds for Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s return to a professional ring were arguably sown when Manny Pacquiao was first linked with a WBC welterweight world title fight against then-champion Mario Barrios in 2025.

Pacquiao produced a performance for the ages. At the age of 46, he rolled back the years and attacked Barrios with such aplomb that the 30-year-old world champ seemed shell-shocked, and was only able to split a controversial draw after rallying late. 

An insider involved in the making of Barrios vs. Pacquiao was under no illusions what a strong performance from Pacquiao might mean — for Premier Boxing Champions, who organized the show, and for the Hall of Famer's possibilities thereafter.

The source said Mayweather would be one interested party. “It would probably trigger something in his head for a rematch,” they told Uncrowned at the time. “[It] would do big business.”

Though Pacquiao insisted he was focused only on Barrios, he nonetheless pushed for the Mayweather rematch when speaking to Uncrowned that week in July ahead of his Las Vegas comeback.

Anadolu via Getty Images

And so it is no surprise to learn on Monday that Pacquiao and Mayweather will box once again.

“Floyd and I gave the world what remains the biggest fight in boxing history,” Pacquiao, now 47, said upon Monday's announcement of a Sept. 19 rematch on Netflix. “The fans have waited long enough — they deserve this rematch.

He finished: “I want Floyd to live with the one loss on his professional record and always remember who gave it to him.”

Mayweather, 49, boxed his whole career without ever tasting defeat, beating a who’s who of elite fighters and box-office names like Oscar De La Hoya, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, Diego Corrales, Arturo Gatti and Conor McGregor.

He beat Pacquiao by a lopsided decision when they threw hands in 2015.

"I already fought and beat Manny once,” said Mayweather on Monday. “This time will be the same result.”

Considering the ability Pacquiao showed he still has against Barrios, it's clear to see why he is still in the game. But the timing of Mayweather’s return is intriguing.

Earlier this month, Mayweather sued his now-defunct broadcast partner, Showtime, and its ex-president Stephen Espinoza, claiming that they, with the help of Mayweather's former advisor Al Haymon, concealed and diverted revenue from his earnings through boxing. In the suit, Mayweather alleges breach of contract, fiduciary duty and unjust enrichment, seeking $340 million in damages.

In his first statement since the suit went public, Espinoza denied the accusations to Compas on the Beat: 

"I spent my entire career representing fighters, making sure they were getting paid appropriately," said Espinoza. "I did that for Oscar [De La Hoya]. I did that for Mike [Tyson]. I did it for every fighter who was developed under Showtime.

“I'm proud of my reputation — it's one of integrity. And I've done everything to make sure a fighter got every penny they deserved."

The suit follows an explosive investigation from Business Insider that suggests Mayweather’s supposedly vast wealth may be overstated, noting liens, debt, foreclosures and leveraged assets like property and a private jet. The December story painted a messy financial picture, alleging Mayweather took out millions in new mortgages in 2025, while two commercial properties were foreclosed, and his Las Vegas strip club building faces tax delinquency.

Creditors reportedly chased Mayweather over unpaid jet fuel and a disputed $1.2 million Maybach vehicle, Business Insider reported. He sold his Gulfstream plane as well as major homes. He’s settled more than $28 million in IRS back taxes, amid lawsuits alleging unpaid luxury debts, though his lawyer rejects these claims.

Said a former Mayweather Promotions fighter, Ishe Smith, when commenting on Mayweather's comeback:

“Read in between the lines. People don’t come out of retirement for the love of the game at damn near 50. That’s not how boxing works.”

Forbes long proclaimed Mayweather as a billion-dollar boxer — the sport’s first fighter to surpass that financial threshold, largely through money-spinning matches against De La Hoya, Pacquiao and McGregor. And he has long protected a lavish image, posting photographs to his Instagram alongside wads of cash, fast cars and watches worth millions of dollars. Uncrowned has also seen Mayweather in and around casinos, betting in a high-roller blackjack room in New York state, and dumping cash from a holdall bag to bet on a big boxing bout at the Mandalay Bay’s sportsbook in Las Vegas.

“Man’s tricked all that money off and needs to come back,” Smith said.

Claressa Shields, one of the sport's top pound-for-pound fighters and the current undisputed women's heavyweight champion, commented on Smith’s post.

“I hate to agree with you,” she said.

Boxing is one of the most beautiful sports in the world, but it's also arguably the most ruthless. The game is littered with unsuccessful comeback tales, with fighters returning to the ring for one last throw of the dice only to find they can no longer defy Father Time as they watch their gamble spectacularly backfire.

Mayweather’s final retirement in 2017 was the antithesis of this. He called the curtain down on a flawless 50-0 career, having accumulated generational wealth, ahead of a guaranteed induction into the International Hall of Fame.

When it came to combat sports, he’d completed it.

Well-worn tropes of penniless fighters exist in the sport because of the frequency in which boxing’s legends have had to come back against their better judgement. Mike Tyson, an all-time great ticket-seller, filed for bankruptcy in 2003 but still returned to get stopped by Danny Williams in 2004 and Kevin McBride in 2005 — fighters he would have annihilated in his prime. Nearly two decades later, he did it again at the age of 58 to fight a 27-year-old Jake Paul.

Evander Holyfield, another icon, faced foreclosures and heavy debts only to repeatedly return to the ring in his late 40s and 50s — the saddest of which saw him get beat down in less than two minutes by an MMA legend, Vitor Belfort, in a 2021 Triller fight.

If even a fraction of the financial allegations swirling around him prove true, Mayweather risks drifting toward this uncomfortable boxing tradition as an all-time great earner who mastered the business inside the ring, only to be drawn back by the economics outside of it.

And, against an in-form, more active and merciless Pacquiao, "Money May" could become the game’s next great cautionary tale.

Large areas of Melbourne and the Yarra Valley are being urged to shelter indoors as dangerous storms cross the city.

Tracking Darryn Peterson live stats with points, minutes in Kansas vs. Houston originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Tracking Darryn Peterson stats with points, minutes in Kansas vs. Houston

Kansas 48, Houston 35

12:00- 2nd Half

Darryn Peterson stats

21 Mins, 8 Points, 3-10 FG, 0-4 3PT, FT 2-2, 3 REB, 0 Ast, 2 TO, 0 STL, 0 BLK

Fouls: 2

13:24- 2nd: Peterson out of the game with Kansas up by 11. 

14:37- 2nd: Houston double teams Peterson and forces a traveling call. 

15:31- 2nd: Peterson has barely touched the ball this half. 

17:18- 2nd: TV Timeout. No looks thus far for Peterson.

20:00- 2nd: Peterson starts the 2nd half in the game.  

Darryn Peterson with ease 🔥

No. 14 Kansas ends the half on an 11-0 run against No. 5 Houston 👀 pic.twitter.com/hGSeoXUgty

— ESPN (@espn) February 24, 2026

Halftime stats: 15 Mins, 8 Points, 3-10 FG, 0-4 3PT, FT 2-2, 3 REB, 0 Ast, 1 TO, 0 STL, 0 BLK, Fouls: 2

9.9 seconds- 1st: Peterson gets in final look in the half and scores on a floater. 

2:21-1st: Peterson to the bench for the second time this half. 

Very poor transition defense and effort from Darryn Peterson. Back turned, not engaged.

Kingston Flemings walks down main street for a slam. pic.twitter.com/OXBQNUGnrP

— Jonah (@Huncho_Jman) February 24, 2026

3:33- 1st: There are some fans saying Peterson is having trouble getting calls from the refs. Others are citing lack of effort to crash the boards. 

Refs vs Darryn Peterson

— Georgia Power 🕷 (@_gapower) February 24, 2026

Nah wtf is this Effort from Darryn Peterson off a missed shot lmao I’m taking AJ over him I’m sorry pic.twitter.com/NGrswNP5eS

— John (@iam_johnw) February 24, 2026

6:22- 1st: Peterson with a nice floater in the lane.

7:24- 1st: Peterson back in the game after a timeout. He has a plug in his nose after having a bloody nose. 

10:25- 1st: Peterson out with second foul early

10:50- 1st: Peterson is trying too hard to make it happen on the floor. Gets his own rebound for a put back layup. 

Boston Celtics GM Brad Stevens is here. #KUbballpic.twitter.com/1EmFRAcpp3

— Sam Lance (@slancehoops) February 24, 2026

11:43- 1st: TV timeout. There's a very clear objective for Houston to lock down Peterson with zone defense. He's become stuck without much movement. 

13:07- 1st: Peterson gets his first points of the game from the free throw line 

14:07- 1st: Peterson starts cold by missing his first three shot with two of them from beyond the arc.

Pregame: Peterson is good to go and warming up. 

Darryn Peterson going through warm ups for tonight’s matchup with Houston and Kingston Flemings. 👀 https://t.co/4O23y1BQVv

— Jamie Shaw (@JamieShaw5) February 24, 2026

The saga surrounding Kansas freshman star Darryn Peterson has become the defining storyline of the Jayhawks’ season, and hits again as No. 14 Kansas prepares to host No. 5 Houston on Monday night at Allen Fieldhouse.

Kansas (20-7, 10-4 Big 12) has struggled to find consistent chemistry while navigating the uncertainty of Peterson’s availability. The contrast has been stark. The Jayhawks scored 82 points in a statement win over Arizona without him, then managed just 68 in Saturday’s home loss to Cincinnati with Peterson logging 32 minutes.

“It’s complicated,” coach Bill Self acknowledged to ESPN, even as he expressed confidence his team has the pieces to contend in March. A two-time national champion with 644 wins at Kansas, Self admitted he’s unsure whether he’s truly had the chance to coach Peterson through a sustained stretch. “The time is now,” Self said.

LIVE:Watch Houston vs. Kansas on the ESPN App

Peterson, the projected No. 1 pick in the 2026 NBA draft, has averaged 27.2 minutes and missed 11 games, with additional midgame exits due to cramping. He insists the narrative that he is willingly sitting out is misguided.

“Basketball is my life,” Peterson said. “If I could have been out there every game this year, I would have.”

Still, the Jayhawks are 9-2 without him, raising questions about rhythm and role definition less than a month before the NCAA tournament. As Houston arrives, the focus is no longer just on Peterson’s talent — but on whether Kansas can build the cohesion it will need when the games matter most.

Where to watch Houston vs. Kansas basketball

Date: Feb. 23
Time: 9 p.m. ET

The huge Big 12 matchup between the No. 5 Houston Cougars and No. 15 Kansas Jayhawks will tip-off at 9 p.m. ET on Monday, Feb. 23. This will feature two teams looking for a statement win.  

What channel is Houston vs. Kansas on?

TV: ESPN
Live stream: ESPN App

Houston vs. Kansas live score, updates, highlights from 2026 college basketball game

The Cougars and Jayhawks matchup can be caught nationally on ESPN. Fans looking to stream the action can do so via the ESPN App with a valid cable login. 

More Darryn Peterson news:

• Bruce Pearl sends warning to NBA teams about Kansas' Darryn Peterson
• Kansas' Darryn Peterson breaks silence about missing games: "Basketball is my life
• One stat proves Darryn Peterson has been selfish for Kansas
• Darryn Peterson's dad sends 9-word message amid ongoing Kansas saga
• Bill Simmons says Darryn Peterson is no longer the No. 1 pick in the NBA Draft

Bernie Fraser told a Senate committee hearing that he would abolish the discount if given the choice, citing growing unease among youth about property prices. The former central bank head stressed the tax concession exacerbates housing affordability issues.