At 46 years of age, an age at which most boxers would have already retired, Manny Pacquiao continues to surprise the world by proving that age is just a number if you stay focused.
He is now ready to return to the ring after his fight against Mario Barrios which ended in a majority draw, a controversial decision, but one that made it clear that Pacquiao still has gas in the tank so there is already talk of his next fight.Manny Pacquiao is not ready to say goodbye to the ring, and now he is aiming for a fight with Gervonta Davis. However, the fight would only happen if the American accepts one key demand.
Who will be Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent?
Manny showed that he still has the speed, pace and stamina to compete at the highest level
The result was a majority draw, which prevented him from breaking his own record as the longest reigning welterweight champion, but did not stop his ambitions to continue making history.
Although Barrios said he was open to a rematch, Pacquiao sees no point in repeating the fight and is already thinking about his next target, which would be none other than Gervonta “Tank” Davis, one of the most explosive fighters today.
The challenge to Gervonta Davis comes with a weight condition
Although Gervonta Davis has been surrounded by retirement rumors, his team denied such claims and, according to recent reports, Pacquiao is ready to face him in December, as long as one clear condition is met: the fight must be at a weight between 145 and 147 pounds.
This is what Pacquiao said in an interview prior to his fight with Barrios: “If he wants, then let him go up to 147 and we can fight… 145 maybe.”
And he confidently added: “That’s not a problem for me, because I’m an experienced fighter.”
This condition is no small one, as Gervonta Davis has never fought in that weight class. He is known for his devastating skills in lower divisions, so moving up to welterweight would represent a significant physical challenge for the American.
Plan B for Manny Pacquiao
If Gervonta Davis does not agree to move up in weight, Manny Pacquiao has another option on the table: Rolly Romero, the current WBA welterweight champion. Romero has shown interest in facing the Filipino, and his aggressive style could generate an attractive fight for fans. However, Pacquiao’s experience could be key to neutralizing the American’s youth.
Despite not having won since 2019, Pacquiao was recently ranked as the number one welterweight contender by the WBC, a decision that has generated debate. His draw against Barrios was enough to position him at the top of the rankings, which further fuels expectations about his next fight.
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