Manny Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 knockouts) stunned the world when he stepped into the ring at 46 years old, not just for an exhibition fight (which are very trendy these days), but to compete at his best, as he did throughout his storied career. Mario Barrios certainly held his own, but the draw as the final decision left many unsatisfied.

Did Manny Pacquiao deserve to be champion?

The Filipino boxer came close to capturing the WBC welterweight title, but although he didn’t succeed, it’s said that plans are in place for him to keep fighting, with December already being mentioned as the month for his return. It will be his 47th birthday, and there’s a long line of hungry young fighters eager for a shot at “Pacman,” which could mean a very lucrative purse.

This extensive list includes names like Gervonta Davis, Ryan García, Rolando Romero, Teófimo López Jr., and others. But before that, a Hall of Fame member and four-time champion across multiple divisions has said that Pacquiao still has gas in the tank and could become a champion again.

“Honestly, I thought Pacquiao did enough to win the fight and should be the world champion right now – it was an incredible performance at 46 years old,” Roy Jones Jr. told The Ring.

“He’s not going to go through a lineup of killers again. But he can pick some of them and give them everything they can handle. The ones who are mature, as they should be at his age, and still have youth, they’re going to beat him because he’s no longer at that age. The ones struggling with their identity, who they are, and where they’re at, he’ll beat most of them.”

Jones also knows what it’s like to fight past 40, understanding what Pacquiao is going through. He retired at 49 but returned at 54 for an eight-round fight against MMA fighter Anthony Pettis and also competed in an exhibition against Mike Tyson in 2020.

“The best part about fighting at an advanced age is hearing people say you can’t, you aren’t, and you shouldn’t,” Jones added.

“For a true champion, those are the things you love to hear. That’s what makes it even more fun. Yes, it’s tough because your body isn’t the same anymore. You have to treat it and respect it a bit differently, but the mind and heart are still there. When you combine the two, it creates momentum. You can regain that determination; it’s just about making it last.”

Roy Jones Jr. is convinced that Manny Pacquiao has had a better career than Floyd Mayweather Jr., sparking an endless debate, though with a Filipino who seems fit not only to fight but to compete at the highest level with all his experience.