Manny Pacquiao Vs Mario Barrios Duel Opportunities Still Open

JAKARTA The duel between Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios is still possible. Opportunities for these clashes could take place in the coming years.

Pacquiao's promoter and right-hand Sean Gibbons said that the eight-dvision champion from the Philippines could still struggle in the ring until he was 50 years old.

"I told Manny that the fight against Barrios was the perfect fight. There were some things that stopped him, but the fight was still possible," Gibbons said.

If nothing goes wrong then Pacquiao will challenge the fighter from the United States in mid-2025, between June, July, or August.

Pacquiao has actually been linked with a potential fight against the WBC welterweight champion so far this year.

However, Barrios turned to a fight to defend his title against Abel Ramos in November 2024 after seeing Pacquiao vulnerable to his exhibition clash against Rukiya Anpo which ended in a draw.

"Manny didn't perform well against Anpo because a lot of things happened behind the scenes. He didn't prepare well," said Gibbons.

Pacquiao, who will turn 46 on December 17, 2024, has not fought professionally since losing his final duel before retiring against Yordenis Ugas in 2021.

The boxer who closed his professional career with a record 62-8-2 (39 KOs) was a strong candidate to join the International Boxing Hall of Fame when the names to be sworn in were announced later this month.