Sixteen months.
That's how long it's been since Manny Pacquiao last stepped through the ropes — that draw with Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title in July 2025.
Since then ?
A Floyd Mayweather rematch announced… then put on hold.
A fight with Joe Cordina on the Fury v Joshua card in Cardiff… then gone. "I know that Pacquiao will not be part of this show," said Eddie Hearn.
Now his manager Sean Gibbons says the plan is a tune-up in December or January.
"He needs to get into the ring and just shake it off because it has been a while since the Barrios fight."
Fair enough. We agree.
But then came the list for what comes AFTER.
"He could fight Conor Benn, he could fight Floyd, Ryan [Garcia], Conor McGregor, Paulie Malignaggi wants to fight him."
Conor McGregor ??
Paulie Malignaggi ??
One is a UFC fighter. The other hung up the gloves years ago and is better known behind a microphone.
This is an eight-division world champion. The greatest fighter Asia has ever produced. A man who turns 48 next month and STILL fought for a world title last year.
He doesn't need a circus.
Benn, at least, makes sense — and he says he's open to it in the first quarter of 2027.
So here's our call :
Get the tune-up done. Then give the fans a REAL fight.
Who do YOU want to see Manny fight next ? Tell us below 👇
Sources:
Boxing News, Tom Eaton (10 Nov 2026) — https://boxingnewsonline.net/news/update-on-pacquiao-next-fight/
TelecomAsia, Marina Magomedova (3 Nov 2026) — https://www.telecomasia.net/news/boxing/pacquiao-withdraws-fury-joshua-event/
ESPN (Oct 2026) — https://www.espn.com/boxing/story/_/id/50250841/joe-cordina-agrees-terms-fight-manny-pacquiao-eddie-hearn
