MANNY PACQUIAO started carving one of the biggest names in boxing when the BusinessMirror hit the streets 20 years ago, having displayed savvy, skills and charisma to a global audience in many, if not all, of his classic and iconic fights in the US.
It was a very memorable career for Pacquiao highlighted by a trilogy with the now retired Erik Morales-he lost the first one via unanimous decision in March 2005 at the MGM Grand but bounced back big beating Morales via knockout twice a year after.
Those huge wins against Morales sparked Pacquiao’s road to boxing stardom, scoring 11 straight wins including against popular Oscar Dela Hoya and Miguel Cotto-a domination that extended to 2012.
After crushing De la Hoya in eights rounds via technical knockout in December 2008, he knocked out England’s Ricky Hatton, now deceased, in just two rounds in April 2009 before sustaining his surge against Mexican Cotto and Antonio Margarito.
The triumph over Margarito made Pacquiao and eight division world champion and the Philippine Sportswriters Association just couldn’t make him its Athlete of the Year every now and then-the scribes installed the former senator as Athlete of the Decade for emerging as the year’s best four times in 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008.
Now turning 47 on December 17, the Hall of Famer isn’t hanging his gloves just yet-he’s to make an official announcement about his upcoming January 24, 2026 fight in Las Vegas-after his latest bout against Mexican Mario Barrios ended in a majority draw last July.
‘Hello to all my boxing fans. I am excited to let you know that I will be returning to the ring January 24 in Las Vegas,’ Pacquiao said in his social media account on Wednesday.
Although no opponent has been named yet as of moment, Pacquiao’s next fight could be against American World Boxing Association welterweight champion Rolando Romero, who upset Ryan Garcia via unanimous decision last May in New York City.
‘It is going to be an exciting and special event,’ Pacquiao said. ‘Stay tuned. More news to come on my opponent in the next few days.’
After his 2021 unanimous decision loss to Yordenis Ugas of Cuba, nobody thought that Pacquiao would be returning to the ring four years later then against the 30-year-old World Boxing Council welterweight champion Barrios.
But he defied Father Time again with an excellent performance that resulted in a controversial majority draw, showing his younger and taller opponent how it should be done atop the ring.
It was not the first time he did it.
He upset American Keith Thurman via split decision in July 2019 in Las Vegas, becoming the oldest welterweight world champion in history of the WBA title at 40, a few months after whipping American Adrien Broner by unanimous decision in January.
Pacquiao’s career was resurrected twice after losing to unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2015 in Las Vegas and Australian Jeff Horn in 2017 in Brisbane. He left boxing for almost a year but kept his training and conditioning intact.
Not just a professional boxer, Pacquiao (62-8-3 win-loss-draw record with 39 knockouts) also served as a congressman of Sarangani from 2010 to 2016 and senator from 2016 to 2022 before deciding to run for president in 2022, but lost.
He also played in the Philippine Basketball Association with Kia from 2014 to 2017 before creating his own basketball league-Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League-in 2018.
Despite his hectic schedules, Pacquiao’s passion for boxing just kept going, an he wants more starting January next year.
‘I am just getting started,’ he said.