The legendary Filipino boxer Manny Pacquiao, 46, has made his return to the ring official for January 24 in Las Vegas. This announcement comes months after his reappearance in July, when he fought a close fight against Mario Barrios that ended in a majority draw, a result that many boxing experts and fans considered in favor of Pac-Man.
Pacquiao shared the news via a video on social media, where he expressed his enthusiasm to return to the ring and keep his passion for boxing alive:
I’m excited to let you know that I’ll be back in the ring on January 24 in Las Vegas. It will be an exciting and special event. Stay tuned, we’ll have more news about my opponent in the coming days
Rolly Romero, main candidate to face Pacquiao in 2026
Although the opponent has yet to be confirmed, 29-year-old Rolly Romerois the favorite to face Pacquiao in the upcoming world championship fight. Romero surprised many after defeating Ryan Garcia on a Times Square card and according to Filipino adviser Sean Gibbons:
We believe the perfect time for Manny to make his comeback clear is January, and I think the perfect opponent is Rolly Romero
If this fight does not materialize, Pacquiao’s interest could also focus on other current boxing figures: Gervonta Davis and Conor Benn, both with important fights in November. This scenario reflects the Filipino’s strategy to measure forces against young and high-profile fighters, defying expectations about his performance at almost 47 years old.
Manny Pacquiao defies the passage of time and maintains his competitive level
In his fight against Barrios, Pacquiao proved that he is still a formidable competitor, landing 101 punches in 577 attempts, including six more power punches than his opponent. Although the fight ended in a majority draw, Manny himself stated: “I thought I won the fight. It was a close fight. My opponent was very tough. It was a wonderful fight.”
In addition, Romero himself has recognized the legend that Pacquiao represents: “Who would have thought that a Hall of Famer, a legend like Manny Pacquiao, would ask me for a fight?” These words anticipate a possible battle that could mark another important chapter in the career of the Filipino icon
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