Manny Pacquiao, now 46, showed significant improvement compared to his loss against Jordenis Ugas four years ago during his recent fight with Mario Barrios in Las Vegas. Although Pacquiao fought fiercely against a champion 16 years his junior and displayed the speed and explosiveness that earned him titles in eight different weight classes, he was ultimately unable to reclaim the welterweight world title or break the record as the oldest champ.
Despite the fight ending in a majority draw, Pacquiao emphasized that this wouldn’t be his last bout. Both he and Barrios expressed interest in a rematch, but the bigger question remains: who should Pacquiao face next? The fight itself saw a low punch output, with Pacquiao landing 101 punches at 17.5% accuracy, and Barrios landing 120 at 18.2%. While this was a commendable return after four years away, a decade ago Pacquiao would likely have dominated.
Barrios presented Pacquiao with a clear path to win the title, but Pacquiao couldn’t capitalize. Some observers scored the fight in Pacquiao’s favor, with ESPN giving him a 115-113 edge. Yet, Pacquiao’s manager, Sean Gibbons, suggested that Manny deserves a fight against a bigger name like Gervonta "Tank" Davis or Rolando "Rolly" Romero.
A bout with Davis seems unlikely due to their weight difference, but Romero – the WBA "regular" welterweight champion who recently defeated Ryan Garcia – offers a more realistic and exciting challenge. Romero’s future opponents remain uncertain, especially as Jaron "Boots" Ennis is expected to vacate the title moving up in weight, possibly promoting Romero to full champion.
Pacquiao is eager to fight again by the end of the year, making a showdown with Romero a perfect next step. Romero carries substantial power but lacks footwork and defense, promising an action-packed fight with Pacquiao’s speed and experience on display. There’s also the distant possibility of a rematch with Floyd Mayweather if Mayweather returns from retirement, something Pacquiao welcomes.
For now, fighting fans should focus on the more practical and thrilling potential match-up with Romero, which could showcase Pacquiao’s enduring skill and determination in the twilight of his career.
Fan Take: This news is crucial for fight fans because it highlights the longevity and resilience of a beloved legend like Pacquiao, who continues to challenge the limits of age in boxing. A potential fight against Romero or even a mythical Mayweather rematch could inject new excitement into the sport, bridging the past and present generations of boxing.
