By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña
Despite the previous fallout from the planned Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios welterweight mega-fight, a new proposal just raised the possibility of re-initiating the match confirmed on December 10, 2024.
According to multiple boxing reports, Sean Gibbons, the president of the Manny Pacquiao (MP) Promotions, will try to lure Barrios’ camp for the second time.
Gibbons will be present at the ongoing 62nd Annual World Boxing Council (WBC) Convention in Hamburg, Germany, and meeting with Barrios’ camp is his top priority.
“Manny was just in Dubai, and 2025 is probably his last year of real competitive boxing, and he’d still love the Mario Barrios fight, and some people believe Manny really has a shot in that fight, and that’s been the goal to make,” said Gibbons.
Several months ago, Gibbons already kicked off their bid to set up the Pacquiao-Barrios fight but the latter looked uninterested in grabbing the opportunity when he chose to fight Abel Ramos during the undercard of the Mike Tyson-Jake Paul main event.
Initially, Pacquaio planned to fight Barrios this year, preferably in the fall season of the United States.
Furthermore, the WBC governing body also approved of the fight, and is targeting this year to treat the thousands of boxing fans, especially the PHL fan base.
Boxing sports media outlet Boxing Scene added that Barrios’ trainer, Bob Santos, already announced that they are already all set to face Pacquiao.
Since taking down Keith Thurman last 2019, Pacquiao has yet to clinch a professional boxing win, losing his last fight against Yordenis Ugas which led to his decision to retire from the sport.
“Manny is running for senate next year in the Philippines, so during that time, you can’t campaign all day long. It will be a little weird going into the Boxing Hall of Fame and fighting, but it will be typical of Manny’s life,” added Gibbons.
