Manny Pacquiao is running out of time in his quest for a professional comeback before his political career restarts.
The Filipino boxing legend previously missed out on the Presidency of his native country after previously serving as a Congressman and in the Senate. The ‘Pac-Man’ will again bid to be Senator Pacquiao in May next year. Therefore, the February to late spring elections will take precedence over any boxing matches.
WBN had revealed a potential flicker of hope for Pacquiao’s WBC title challenge against Mario Barrios before another hurdle stepped in the way.
WBC welterweight champion Barrios’ trainer, Bob Santos, opened the door to a potential fight after November. However, Pacquiao’s MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons soon closed it due to the elections.
Santos told WBN that the Pacquiao offer wasn’t acted upon swiftly enough, leading to Barrios’ acceptance of an offer to defend his green belt against Abel Ramos. The fight will occur on the undercard of Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul at the AT&T Stadium in Texas on November 16.
Santos explained that competing on Tyson’s comeback bill was too good an opportunity to pass up and continue negotiating with Pacquiao.
It doesn’t get bigger than Netflix,” Santos exclusively told World Boxing News Lead Writer Alan Dawson.
“[The Pacquiao fight] couldn’t come to fruition for whatever reason. We were in negotiations. I know Pacquiao wanted to fight. We wanted to fight. It would have been a great world title fight, but they just couldn’t come together in the time frame.
“This opportunity came with Netflix and Jake Paul vs Mike Tyson. This is not just a boxing event but one of the biggest events. The numbers are going to be insane.
“Everybody loves Mike Tyson, and everyone wants to support Mike Tyson in a lot of ways. Obviously, there’s notoriety, especially with Jake Paul. This event – it’s enormous.”
“The only reason Pacquiao [would] come back, obviously, at this stage is to make history. It would have to be for a world title. So if we don’t take care of business and maintain the world championship, obviously, that fight would go out the window.
“So we gotta be 100% focused on Abel Ramos first,” the Las Vegas-based coach added.
Upon hearing that Barrios would be interested in striking up failed talks again after his November fight, Gibbons responded. He explained that Pacquiao’s schedule will not allow any fights after January until later in 2025.
“Let’s see what happens [with Barrios after his fight],” Gibbons told World Boxing News exclusively. “We are running out of a little time as ‘Sir Manny’ declared his candidacy for the Senate in 2025. So he’s tied up from February to May 11, when the election is.
“But, anything can happen – after. For sure, that’s [the Barrios title chance], but it is still the fight.”
Pacquiao had announced an exhibition with Floyd Mayweather in December 2023. The RIZIN event was due to occur on New Year’s Eve of 2024.
Another story is whether that clash can be revitalized before Pacquiao’s Senatorial bid.
