Manny Pacquiao after entering the ring to fight Mario Barrios in a WBC welterweight title fight at MGM Grand Garden Arena on July 19, 2025 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Harry How/Getty Images/AFP
MANILA, Philippines–Manny Pacquiao had already said his ring return wasn’t a one-off.
True enough, the boxing legend is keen on fighting again before year’s end.
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“This year, this year mga (around) December,” Pacquiao, who went on a vacation in Italy, said in an interview with ABS-CBN’s Dyan Castillejo upon his arrival at NAIA Terminal 3 on Thursday.
The Hall-of-Famer also nodded his head, waggled his eyebrows while flashing a big grin when asked if his next bout would be in the United States again.
Pacquiao came so close to making history after battling the much younger Barrios, who retained his WBC welterweight world title, to a majority draw last July 20 in a record 16th appearance at MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.
The result was highly disputed, with many convinced that Pacquiao clearly won.
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The 46-year-old Pacquiao came off a four-year layoff but hardly showed any signs of rust and didn’t even appear as if he just went into a 12-round battle against a fundamentally sound Barrios.
Pacquiao’s impressive showing left him with several options for his next fight with the likes of WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero and Gervonta Davis among his potential opponents.
Ranked as the No. 1 contender by the WBC, a rematch with Barrios is also on the table.
Pacquiao turns 47 years old on December 17.
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