Manny Pacquiao stepped back into the ring with his trademark speed, power, and relentless drive. Although he lost to Mario Barrios on July 19, the fight seemed only to fuel his desire to continue boxing, making any talk of retirement feel very premature.
While his team pursues a rematch with Barrios – who prevailed by majority decision – Pacquiao is already looking ahead to his next opponent as negotiations for that bout develop.
Potential names being discussed include Rolando Romero, Gervonta Davis, and a resurgent Ryan Garcia, eager to reclaim the spotlight after a difficult stretch in his career.
In a recent interview, Garcia expressed his eagerness to return at full strength following his recovery from a second surgery since 2021. The 26-year-old, soon to turn 27, believes that a fight against Pacquiao could propel him back into boxing’s elite conversation.
I would dominate him,” Garcia said. “I would capitalize on Manny’s mistakes better than other guys. I would knock him out like Juan Manuel Marquez – all due respect to the legend Manny, though.
Pacquiao’s next fight could fall on his birthday
Sean Gibbons, Pacquiao’s longtime adviser, told The Ring he envisions the Filipino icon fighting on his birthday, December 17, when Pacquiao will turn 47.
I’m looking for and shooting for a fight in December… If Manny Pacquiao does want to fight me and make big money in a huge fight, then let’s do it,” Rolando Romero said, positioning himself as a possible opponent.
Following the majority decision loss to Barrios, speculation quickly surfaced that Pacquiao was far from finished. Soon, Romero’s name emerged as a strong candidate. The 29-year-old fighter recently defeated Ryan Garcia at the May’s Fatal Fury event and has openly embraced the possibility of facing Pacquiao.
A Hall of Famer on my resume – who wouldn’t want that?” Romero remarked. “That’s the easiest way to get into the Hall of Fame, right?
With momentum building, Romero appears poised to be the frontrunner for Pacquiao’s next opponent in December
After the Barrios fight, Pacquiao shared his emotions on social media, offering gratitude for his safety and renewed energy inside the ropes.
Thank you, Lord, for keeping us safe in the ring. I want to thank my wife, my children, my family, my team and everyone who supported me during this fight… Even after all these years, I felt great in the ring.
Now, all eyes turn to Pacquiao’s next move as preparations begin for what could be another chapter in his legendary career – and proof that there is still plenty of fuel left in his tank. The Filipino boxer needs to continue training to keep up the pace in order to have the greatest performance in his next fight in December. He has a lot of people rooting for him and aiming for his next win.
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