The hunt for a dance partner continues for Manny Pacquiao.
Three months after his comeback fight against Mario Barrios, the Filipino icon is still in the process of finalizing his next gig.
Just yesterday, news came out that streaming giant Netflix is eyeing to stage a rematch between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. in 2026 – or more than a decade since the two boxing superstars first fought.
Pacquiao confirmed that the retired Mayweather is indeed among those he considers for his planned ring return early next year.
‘There’s a lot of ongoing negotiations right now, so it’s hard to preempt what fight I’m going to push through,’ Pacquiao told the media Wednesday during a press conference announcing his entry into the International Boxing Association leadership as its vice president.
‘I’m waiting for the final negotiations,’ stressed Pacquiao, who fought Barrios to a draw last July in a failed bid to snatch the latter’s World Boxing Council welterweight title.
Another name that came up is Vasiliy Lomachenko, also a retired former champion who, like Mayweather, was once among the sports’ top pound-for-pound fighters.
‘There’s a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather, and also a fight with Lomachenko and other fighters,’ said Pacquiao, who is turning 47 this December.
Mayweather and Lomachenko thus add to the list of possible Pacquiao opponents that originally has reigning World Boxing Association welterweight Rolly Romero as the frontrunner.
Still, Pacquiao remains fixated on Mayweather, who handed him a decision loss in 2015, in what turned out to be among the richest fights in boxing history.
‘I’d love to have a fight, a rematch with Floyd Mayweather. I hope we can understand each other and we can negotiate well,’ he said.
But when will everything be signed, sealed and delivered?
‘Soon,’ said Pacquiao.