Manny Pacquiao makes intentions clear after successful comeback fight
After an impressive comeback against Mario Barrios, Manny Pacquiao announced what's next
Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao has revealed that he will be stepping back into the ring on Jan. 24 in Las Vegas, following his major return against Mario Barrios in July.
The 46 year old fighter competed for the first time in four years on July 19, immediately pursuing Barrios for the WBC welterweight world championship. The seasoned boxer was limited to a majority draw, with most spectators feeling he'd accomplished enough to secure the victory.
While Pacquiao's upcoming adversary remains unconfirmed, he may encounter 29-year-old Rolly Romero in another world championship bout. Romero defeated Ryan Garcia earlier this year during a fight card staged in Times Square, though other prominent names are being evaluated.
Pacquiao revealed his comeback on Tuesday through a video shared on social media. "Hello to all my boxing fans," he said.
"I'm excited to let you know I will be returning to the ring on January 24 in Las Vegas."
"It is going to be an exciting and special event. Stay tuned. More news to come on my opponent in the next few days."
According to Pacquiao's advisor, Sean Gibbons, Romero leads the pack. He informed ESPN: "We would have loved to fight again before the end of the year, but the timing didn't work out.
"We think 2026 will be a new year with new beginnings and hopefully a new opponent. I think the perfect time for Manny to make a statement to come back is January, and I think the perfect opponent is Rolly Romero."
If a deal with Romero falls through, the focus might shift to two other boxing stars. As per Ring Magazine, Gervonta Davis and Conor Benn are also on Pacquiao's radar.
Davis is set to square off against Jake Paul in an exhibition match on Nov. 14, while Benn will take on Chris Eubank Jr. the next day. Many anticipated Pacquiao would have a tough time returning to the ring, but the boxing icon proved them wrong with his comeback fight.
In his bout against Barrios, Pacquiao landed 101 out of 577 punches, while Barrios managed to land 120 out of 658. Although Pacquiao landed six more power punches than Barrios, the judges were unable to declare a clear winner, resulting in a majority draw.
"I thought I won the fight," Pacquiao stated. "It was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. It was a wonderful fight."
Pacquiao, who will be 47 at his next fight, isn't intimidated by his younger rivals and has even humbled Romero ahead of potential fight negotiations. "Who would have ever thought that a Hall of Famer, a legend like Manny Pacquiao, would be asking for a fight with me?" Romero expressed about the interest.