Jul 19, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Manny Pacquiao smiles before his fight against Mario Barrios at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

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Manny Pacquiao Back In The Ring? Negotiations With Floyd Mayweather And Another Legend In The Works For April!

Jul 19, 2025; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Manny Pacquiao smiles before his fight against Mario Barrios at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-Imagn Images

Retirement in boxing rarely means what it’s supposed to mean for legendary fighters chasing glory. Manny Pacquiao officially retired from professional boxing years ago after an illustrious Hall of Fame career. The Filipino icon captured world titles in eight different weight classes throughout his remarkable journey. But retirement couldn’t keep ‘PacMan’ away from the ring for long at all recently.

Pacquiao made a stunning return to professional boxing in 2025 against Mario Barrios and looked surprisingly sharp. Now discussions of even bigger fights have emerged that could bring Pacquiao back for more action. The boxing legend confirmed this week that talks are happening for multiple potential matchups simultaneously. One fight would settle unfinished business while another represents an intriguing stylistic challenge against different competition entirely.

Manny Pacquiao Talks Floyd Mayweather Rematch

Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather in 2015 became one of the most talked-about fights in boxing history. Mayweather won by unanimous decision in a fight that disappointed many viewers expecting more action. Pacquiao later revealed he fought with a significant shoulder injury that limited his performance considerably. Pacquiao confirmed this week while talking to Seconds Out that current negotiations involve a real professional fight, not an exhibition.

“Right now it is in negotiations. My people and his people are directly coordinating. Now I don’t have a shoulder problem, so it’s a good fight. I’m sure the world of boxing will be excited if the rematch will push through.”

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The rematch would answer lingering questions about what could have happened if Pacquiao (62-8-3) fought healthy initially. His recent performance against Barrios showed he still possesses speed, power, and ring intelligence at 46 years old. Mayweather has only participated in exhibition matches since retiring officially after beating Conor McGregor. Whether he’s willing to risk his perfect 50-0 record in a real fight remains questionable.

Vasiliy Lomachenko Also In Negotiations For Exhibition

Manny Pacquiao revealed that talks are also happening with recently retired Vasiliy Lomachenko for a potential matchup. The Ukrainian boxing legend called it quits from professional competition recently. Lomachenko captured world titles in three weight classes with his remarkable technical skills and footwork. Pacquiao clarified that the Lomachenko fight would be an exhibition rather than a professional bout officially.

“There is also negotiation with Lomachenko for an exhibition. Just an exhibition, not a real fight. But the Mayweather thing that we are negotiating right now is a real fight.”

An exhibition with Lomachenko would still generate significant interest given both fighters’ legendary status and skills. The stylistic matchup between Pacquiao’s aggression and Lomachenko’s technical brilliance would fascinate boxing purists everywhere.

Both potential fights target April 2026 as the timeframe for happening if negotiations succeed completely. The Mayweather rematch carries more mainstream appeal and PPV potential than the Lomachenko exhibition. But both fights would give boxing fans a chance to see a living legend compete one more time!

(Image Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie – Imagn Images)

Floyd Mayweather

Manny Pacquiao

Vasiliy Lomachenko

Zaid Quraishi

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I am a dedicated MMA and Boxing content writer at The Playoffs. I was instantly hooked on MMA after watching the fight between Lyoto Machida vs. Gegard Mousasi back in 2014, and since then, i have been an avid writer with a deep love for the sport and its techniques, providing readers with a thorough understanding of the sport. My favorite aspect of working at The Playoffs is the creative freedom it provides. The diverse range of topics, from listicles and SEO to news articles, keeps me engaged and motivates me to continuously improve my skills! I aim to capture the excitement of the combat sports world in my writing, acting as the middleman between fighters and their die-hard fans. It is kind of like a referee, but with words!