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Manny Pacquiao Returns: Opponent Yet to be Announced
- SKRAMBLE
- Oct 10
- 2 min read
Pacquiao recently confirmed in a video message that he will be returning to the ring on January 24, 2026, in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquiao is set to return to the ring early next year. Coming off a majority draw against Mario Barrios in July, the Filipino announced that he will be fighting on January 24, 2026, in Las Vegas. He has yet to announce an opponent for the bout, but here are a few potential candidates that are rumored to be Pacquiao's dance partner come January:
Rolando "Rolly" Romero: The current WBA Super Lightweight champion is widely considered the frontrunner for the January bout. Pacquiao's team has confirmed they are in the process of negotiating and finalizing the fight with Romero.
Mario Barrios (Rematch): A rematch against the WBC Welterweight champion is a strong possibility. Their previous bout in July 2025 ended in a controversial majority draw, with many fans and pundits believing Pacquiao had done enough to win. Both fighters expressed interest in running it back.
Gervonta "Tank" Davis: A fight against one of the sport's biggest current stars remains a highly marketable, though perhaps a more difficult, negotiation option.
Conor Benn: The British welterweight has also been mentioned on a shortlist of potential opponents.
Any of these fighters would be nothing short of a great match against the 8-division champion. Pacquiao showed that he can still compete at the highest level during the Barrios fight and would be looking for a bigger challenge this time around.
Manny will be 47 years old come fight time, so rumors of whether this would be a retirement match are sure to spread. Many say that the Pacman has already made his mark on boxing and has nothing to prove, but no one can really stop the drive that a champion has, except for themselves. One thing is for sure, whoever Pacquiao's opponent may be, and whether it is his last match or not, the Hall of Famer is sure to put on a top performance in Vegas, for his fans and for his country.