Manny Pacquiao is reportedly set to fight again, with his next bout being targeted for January 2026 as a Premier Boxing Champions pay-per-view on Amazon Prime.
The frontrunner to face Pacquiao remains Rolando “Rolly” Romero, though Romero noted he wasn’t prepared for an originally planned December date as he undergoes what he describes as a personal “spiritual journey.”
Pacquiao returned to the ring this past July after more than three years out, battling WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios Jr. to a majority draw in a fight many observers felt Pacquiao deserved to win. With another title opportunity, he will attempt to join Bernard Hopkins and George Foreman as the only fighters to capture a world championship past the age of 45.
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Romero, a former WBA super lightweight titlist, has lost only to Gervonta “Tank” Davis and interim champion Isaac Cruz. After upsetting Ryan Garcia in May, he pushed for a Pacquiao bout but has since shifted focus to faith and personal growth. “It’s not even about money … never was,” Romero said. “I’m thinking something much bigger.”
The storyline would resonate with Pacquiao himself, who openly embraced his Christian faith more than a decade ago after his own struggles outside the ring.
The January date was made possible after PBC confirmed a December 6 Prime Video card in San Antonio, featuring Isaac Cruz vs. Lamont Roach Jr. for the interim WBC junior welterweight title.
Though there had been industry whispers of a Teofimo Lopez Jr.-Pacquiao clash, those discussions are now off the table for the time being.
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