Manny Pacquiao is a former eight-weight world champion who is still looking to prove there is more he can do in the sport. He has said he will return in January at the age of 47.
Pacquiao has fought 73 times and won 62 of those with names like Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Tim Bradley, Juan Manuel Marquez, Ricky Hatton and many more, all beaten by the Filipino icon.
In July, Pacquiao showed that he still has the skills and the stamina to kick it with the current generation when he fought to a draw with WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
With a seconds retirement seemingly out of the question at this point, Pacquiao has kept his sights on a world title for his next fight. Speaking to Fight Hub TV, Sean Gibbons from Pacquiao’s promotional team suggested a fight with two-weight world champion Rolly Romero is close to being made for the new year.
“It’s no secret right. In this day and age with all this media, absolutely, I mean, I’m not going to sit here and say maybe.
“If you look at all the guys that are out there and available, he’s the guy who has the belt. If he didn’t have the belt, we wouldn’t be looking at Roll Romero.
“For Manny, having that WBA belt which he won at 140, won it at 147 and became the oldest champion at that time. It would be unbelievable at 47 to win it. 24th, 31st January is the goal.”
Were Pacquiao to win, he would break his own record as the oldest world welterweight champion in history, having been 40 when he defeated WBA champion Keith Thurman back in 2019.
Since that interview, however, the WBA has ordered ‘Rolly’ Romero to face mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov. If a deal cannot be struck with Giyasov and the sanctioning body, ‘PacMan’ may have to look elsewhere, with Teofimo Lopez also apparently an option.
