Pacquiao’s camp targets January showdown against Romero

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Manny Pacquiao’s return inside the boxing ring might take place in Jan. 2026 after his camp, led by MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons, revealed that they are already processing the paperwork for a clash against welterweight champion Rolando Romero.

After a failed bid to reclaim glory when a majority draw decision capped off his boxing comeback against Mario Barrios, Pacquiao will once again test the waters and aim to snatch Romero’s World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight belt.

“2026 will be a new year with new beginnings and hopefully a new opponent,” Gibbons said.

“I think the perfect time for Manny to make a statement to come back is January, and I think the perfect opponent is Rolly Romero.”

In a report published by ESPN, negotiations for the Pacquiao-Romero fight already kicked off, but the terms of the deal, including the pay split, have yet to be agreed upon.

However, the initial plan to stage the fight was this upcoming December, but due to a conflict with MP Promotions’ scheduled fights, the Pacquiao-Romero title clash is now eyed to happen in January next year.

This comes after Isaac Cruz, one of the prized fighters under contract with MP Promotions, will have a blockbuster bout against Lamont Roach Jr. on Dec. 6, 2025.

As early as July, Romero already expressed his eagerness to fight Pacquiao, weeks after the controversial majority draw decision against Barrios.

“A Hall of Famer on my resume, who wouldn’t want that? That’s the easiest way to get into the Hall of Fame, right?” said Romero in an interview with BoxingScene.

Romero, the current World Boxing Association (WBA) lightweight champion, is coming off a massive victory over heavy favorite Ryan Garcia last May 25, 2025.

Despite having only 19 professional fights, Gibbons believed that Romero would be an exciting fight for Pacquiao, both skill-wise and from a promotional standpoint.

“Rolly Romero would be an unbelievably fun fight. Romero just beat Ryan Garcia. Rolly Romero and Manny Pacquiao would be a hell of a promotion,” added Gibbons.