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Manny Pacquiao’s Next Opponent and Other Candidates Are Leaked as Juan Manuel Márquez Talks About Defeating the Filipino Again
Manny Pacquiao’s return to the ring was a welcome surprise for the boxing world. The Filipino legend proved his skills remain intact, fighting to a majority draw against Mario Barrios in a thrilling bout where he nearly made history as the oldest welterweight champion at 46 years old.
Though Pacquiao fell just short against the WBC welterweight champion, all signs now point to another comeback fight — and potential opponents are already lining up.
Pacquiao’s Next Fight Could Be Against Rolly Romero
According to ESPN insider Mike Coppinger on Inside The Ring, Manny Pacquiao is close to finalizing a deal to fight Rolando “Rolly” Romero, the reigning WBA welterweight champion, with the bout tentatively scheduled for January 2026.
If negotiations with Rolly Romero fall through, Gervonta “Tank” Davis or Conor Benn could step in as alternative opponents for Pacquiao’s highly anticipated next fight.
Pacquiao officially ended his retirement this summer and showed flashes of his old brilliance in the draw with Mario Barrios. But the eight-division world champion isn’t done yet — his drive to compete at the elite level continues to captivate boxing fans worldwide.
Meanwhile, Gervonta Davis is set for a high-profile exhibition fight against Jake Paul, which will stream live on Netflix on November 14, drawing further intrigue to the welterweight scene.
Could There Be Another Pacquiao vs Juan Manuel Márquez Fight?
Rumors have recently resurfaced about a possible exhibition fight between Juan Manuel Márquez and Manny Pacquiao, reigniting one of the most iconic rivalries in modern boxing history.
Pacquiao and Márquez faced each other four times, producing unforgettable battles that defined a generation. The rivalry ended with Márquez’s legendary knockout victory in their fourth fight — a defining moment in Mexican boxing.
However, in a recent interview with Izquierdazo, Márquez shut down any talk of a fifth fight:
“They’ve told me they want to do an exhibition, but do you think it would really be an exhibition with him? Never. Even if rounds were two minutes, we’d end up trying to kill each other. It’s better to leave it as it is,” Márquez said.
Before his comeback fight with Barrios, Pacquiao reflected on that memorable defeat during a Fight Hub TV interview:
“He got lucky. I was about to finish him in that round. If not that one, then the next. I got careless, and he landed a lucky shot,” Pacquiao recalled.
More than a decade after that unforgettable night in Las Vegas, fans still dream of Pacquiao vs Márquez V, but it seems Márquez prefers to preserve his legacy as it stands.
