Manny Pacquiao is weighing his options for a blockbuster follow-up of his comeback fight after proving he still has something left in the tank.
The 46-year-old Filipino boxing legend nearly pulled off a massive upset against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on July 19.
The fight ended in a controversial majority draw, with two judges having it 114-114, while the third judge gave Barrios a 115-113 edge.
Pacquiao outboxed the younger champion through the first nine rounds, but Barrios stormed back late to force a controversial majority draw.
Pacquiao called for an immediate rematch with Barrios, but his business manager Sean Gibbons, CEO of MP Promotions, is not interested.
“I don’t mean this in a mean way, but [expletive] Mario Barrios,” Gibbons told reporters after the fight. “He’s a nice guy and I like the kid, but Manny deserves a bigger name. There are fighters like Gervonta “Tank” Davis and [Rolando] “Rolly” Romero out there.”
Pacquiao-Mayweather 2?
One fighter looms above all others — and he’s not active.
Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“It’s hard to talk about a fighter who [is] retired,” Pacquiao said of Mayweather during his postfight press conference. “But if he comes out [of retirement] and signs the contract, then we will fight.
“Let’s fight again, if he (Mayweather) wants, I have no problem with that. I’m active now. I don’t pick my opponent. I’ll fight them all in my weight division.”
Mayweather, 48, retired unbeaten in 2017. His 2015 decision win over Pacquiao was the highest-grossing bout in boxing history, generating over $600 million in gross revenue, including $400 million from pay-per-view sales.
Pacquiao earned an estimated $130 million from that fight — the crown jewel of his $575 million career earnings (or $775 million adjusted for inflation), according to Sporting News.
On the other hand, Mayweather took home between $220-$280 million. In 2016, he even flexed a $100 million check he got from the Pacquiao fight.
With Pacquiao expected to make $17–18 million, per Marca, from the Barrios fight, a rematch with Mayweather could potentially multiply that figure several times over.
“The best fighter I ever fought, probably was Manny Pacquiao. Because of his movement,” Mayweather said on “The Million Dollaz Worth of Game” podcast in 2021.
“But he’s a helluva’ fighter and I can see why he won so many fights and I can see why he’s going down as a Hall of Famer, it’s just certain moves that he made.”
Davis Fight a Risk, Romero More Realistic
If Mayweather remains retired, the Pacquiao camp is still focused on delivering a big-money showdown.
Davis is the obvious draw. But he also represents the biggest danger — a young, explosive finisher in his prime.
A catchweight deal would be the likeliest solution. Pacquiao earned the nickname “Catchweight King” for a reason — famously defeating Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito under those terms. Davis, too, agreed to one for his 2023 knockout win over Ryan Garcia.
Romero, on the other hand, is a more realistic option. The 29-year-old recently won the WBA welterweight (regular) belt and is set to be elevated to full champion status once Jaron “Boots” Ennis vacates.
Romero brings youth, a belt, and far less risk — making him an appealing target for Pacquiao’s next fight.
Gibbons is looking at the end of the year for the next Pacquiao fight.
“December sounds good,” he told reporters.
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