Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao confirmed he is in talks with the camp of World Boxing Association (WBA) welterweight champion Rolly Romero for a possible fight, the eight-division world champion bared.
Pacquiao revealed the news during the Thrilla in Manila 2 press conference Wednesday in Quezon City.
‘[We are] still negotiating, pero we’re just finalizing it,’ the 46-year-old boxer said.
Questions have been raised regarding the next opponent of the boxer-turned-politician after his comeback fight earlier this year.
MP Promotions chief Sean Gibbons earlier named Romero as one of the possible opponents for Pacquiao after his the Filipino southpaw’s duel with World Boxing Council welterweight champion Mario Barrios.
Pacquiao returned to the boxing ring last July and forced a majority draw against Barrios.
It was an impressive comeback fight, with several boxing fans seeing ‘Pacman’ actually winning over the 30-year-old ‘El Azteca’.
Pacquiao was later installed as the No. 1 contender for the same title.
He retired from boxing back in 2021 after a loss against Yordenis Ugas.
Speaking about the 50th anniversary of Thrilla in Manila, Pacquiao voiced excitement and joy in bringing the celebration to life.
‘I’m so excited and happy. Kasi dati, lumaban na ako dito sa Araneta at ngayon nagpo-promote na tayo ng big fight dito. This is not a small fight but a big fight,’ he said.
‘A world championship fight and a celebration of the 50th anniversary of Thrilla in Manila. It’s an honor kaya happy tayo na kahit di pa tayo pinanganak nung time na yun, tayo ang kumbaga nagdala dito ng promotion,’ he added.
On October 1, 1975, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier slugged it out in what was known as ‘Thrilla in Manila.’ There, Ali won over Frazier, who retired from his corner in Round 14.
‘Like Ali’
And if you were to ask Pacquiao which of the two he sees more of as a boxer?
‘Sting like a bee,’ he said, citing Ali’s famous quote.
‘Puncher din ako, marami akong sumuntok at hindi ako flat-footed,’ he said.
The anniversary card will be headlined by a WBC strawweight championship bout between Melvin Jerusalem and Siyakholwa Kuse.
Eumir Marcial, Marlon Tapales and Carl Jammes Martin will also see action, while Nico Ali Walsh, the grandson of ‘The Greatest’, will also battle it out in a middleweight bout against Thailand’s Patumpong Saengarun.