Boxing

Manny Pacquiao Gets New Fight Return Date Because of Lamont Roach

Manny Pacquiao's desire to fight in December won't be granted for an interesting reason.
Grant Young|
Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino boxer seen during a press conference on July 21, 2023.
Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino boxer seen during a press conference on July 21, 2023. | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Ever since Manny Pacquiao confirmed that he wanted to keep fighting after his impressive July 19 performance against reigning WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios (which ended up in a majority draw, meaning Barrios retained his title), there has been a lot of speculation on who Pacquiao could be facing next, and when that fight might take place.

It soon became clear that while rematching Barrios was an option, the fact that Pacquiao turned back the clock and looked close to his vintage self made a fight with a bigger-name opponent more appealing. The two frontrunners for Pacquiao's next fight quickly emerged as Rolly Romero and Ryan Garcia.

Because Romero beat Garcia earlier this year, he seemed to make the most sense. And it's now clear that this is the direction both sides are headed, as Pacquiao asserted that “We are negotiating and finalizing” the fight with Romero during a Thrilla in Manila 50th Anniversary press conference on October 1.

Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino boxer poses for a photo to the media during a press conference on July 20, 2023.
Manny Pacquiao, a Filipino boxer poses for a photo to the media during a press conference on July 20, 2023. | IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

There hadn't been as much speculation about when Pacquiao would return, when compared to who he would fight, since the Barrios fight. This is because the 46-year-old has been clear that he wanted to return in December for months now.

But those plans have now been delayed because of another bout being finalized.

Lamont Roach Jr. Fight Delays Manny Pacquiao Return

Ever since Lamont Roach Jr.'s supposed rematch with Gervonta "Tank" Davis went by the wayside, boxing fans have been curious to see when Roach would be fighting next. And on October 2, it was reported that he would be moving up to 140 pounds to face Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz.

While this fight news is exciting, it also threw a wrench in the Pacquiao vs. Romero fight. DAZN's James Hicken published an October 3 article that revealed the initial plan that Roach vs. Cruz would be the co-main event of the Pacquiao vs. Romero fight on December 6.

However, the plan has since changed. Given Roach's stardom in the wake of the Davis fight, the powers that be have decided that Roach vs. Cruz is worthy of a main event spot. As a result, Pacquiao vs. Romero (which hasn't been finalized) has supposedly been moved back to January.

The Pacquiao vs. Romero fight still needs to be signed before the suspected January date can be finalized. But as for now, it seems likely that the Pac Man won't fight again in 2025 like he had initially wanted.

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Grant Young
GRANT YOUNG

Grant Young is a Staff Writer for On SI’s Boxing, New York Mets, Indiana Fever, and Women’s Fastbreak sites. Before joining SI in 2024, he wrote for various boxing and sports verticals such as FanBuzz and NY Fights. Young has a bachelor’s degree in marketing and a master’s degree in creative writing with an emphasis on sports nonfiction from the University of San Francisco, where he played five seasons of Division 1 baseball. He fought Muay Thai professionally in Thailand in 2023, loves a good essay, and is driven crazy trying to handle a pitpull puppy named Aura. Young lives in San Diego and was raised in the San Francisco Bay Area.