Sean Gibbons reveals Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent and slams his critics

Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao returned to the ring on July 19 and, at 46 years old, showed he still has plenty left to give. His comeback fight against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios ended in a controversial majority draw after 12 rounds. Two judges scored it 114–114, while the third had it 115–113 for Barrios, allowing the Mexican-American to retain his title and improve to 29-2-2 (18 KOs). Pacquiao’s record now stands at 62-8-3.

With speculation swirling about his next opponent, Sean Gibbons, president of MP Promotions, confirmed that Pacquiao is eager to continue fighting and is targeting December for his next bout.

“All the stories are out there, and Rolly Romero is one of the frontrunners because Manny wants meaningful fights,” Gibbons said. “He wants to break his own records and make history—just like when he won a world title at 40 years old.”

Boxing champion and former senator Manny Pacquiao says he visited President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. to present his WBC belt and gloves. He also asked for support for the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the “Thrilla in Manila,” the historic boxing match between Muhammad… pic.twitter.com/VVpZWaEc89

— Philippine News Agency (@pnagovph) August 28, 2025

Gibbons added that Pacquiao had hoped to set a new record at 46, and while that didn’t happen, the new goal is to capture another belt at 47. “Manny has already shown everyone he’s back. People thought he was coming back just for a payday, but no—he’s passionate about boxing and wants to make history.”

According to Gibbons, Pacquiao is now fully committed to boxing, with politics no longer a distraction. “Looking ahead, we have solid options. Based on his performance in July, Manny proved he can still compete. The critics, even the WBC and Mauricio Sulaiman, should be ashamed for doubting him. Both Manny and Rolly are with PBC, so the fight makes sense.”

Romero, the reigning WBA welterweight champion, has also expressed interest in facing Pacquiao, saying he wants the Hall of Famer on his résumé. Another name in the mix is Ryan Garcia, who has boldly claimed he would knock Pacquiao out. Gibbons, however, downplayed that possibility.

“A fight with Ryan Garcia has been discussed, but he’s complicated to deal with. It’s not impossible, but difficult. Rolly makes the most sense. Money always matters in prizefighting, but Manny wants belts, not just paydays,” Gibbons explained. “Barrios is a great fighter, but he doesn’t sell. Rolly brings chaos and excitement. We missed out on Gervonta Davis, but now there’s buzz around Jake Paul. We’ll see how things unfold in the coming weeks.”

After taking a short break with his wife in Italy, Pacquiao is back in the Philippines, where his camp is expected to finalize plans for his next fight. While nothing is official yet, December is being targeted for his return to the ring.

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