The cat’s out of the bag: Manny Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) is in negotiations with Rolly Romero (17-2, 13 KOs) for a title fight in January 2026. If signed, sealed, and delivered, this will be the Pacman’s second fight since coming out of “retirement”—the first being a majority decision loss to Mexico’s Mario Barrios back in July.
Longtime Pacquiao adviser Sean Gibbons confirmed Rolly Romero as the Filipino’s next likely opponent, and he told ESPN that the current WBA welterweight kingpin is “the perfect opponent” for the eight-division world champion.
Of course, given Pacquiao’s advancing age (he’d be 47 when January 2026 rolls along), it’s fair to take Gibbons’s assessment with a grain of salt. But he might be on to something in saying that Romero is a perfect foe for the Pacman. In fact, we actually agree with him. Here are four reasons we believe in Gibbons’s “hot” take:
1. Rolly Romero Has a Belt
At this point, Pacquiao can’t be wasting time fighting bums, no-names, and belt-less foes. He’s chasing history, aiming to reset a record he already owns as the oldest welterweight champion ever. Romero has a belt, which means beating him would allow the fighting pride of Sarangani to achieve something historical once more.
2. Rolly Romero’s Style Is Tailor-Fit for Pacquiao
No offense to Romero, but he isn’t exactly the kind of crafty boxer who’d pick apart Pacquiao. He’s more gung-ho, charge-forward in his style, and that’ll suit the Pacman just right as he’d be able to conserve his energy while Romero comes after him. The American won’t be backing down either and will likely engage the Filipino. When that happens, Pacquiao can turn the lights out with his power.
3. Rolly Romero Is Just 5-Foot-7
While Pacquiao has felled taller opponents before, he noticeably struggled against the 6-foot-tall Barrios, who used his size advantage to keep the Pacman on the outside and away from firing range. Romero, who’s 5-foot-7, won’t have the same physical advantage as Barrios had, and that’s probably to Pacquiao’s favor.
4. Rolly Romero Isn’t That Good to Begin With
Again, no offense to Romero, but he just isn’t on the level of a Manny Pacquiao in terms of talent and skills. He talks a big game and has an aggressive, entertaining style, and that’s probably why he’s been able to gain a measure of notoriety. But strip away the bravado and you’ll find a fighter who lacks boxing acumen and top-tier technique—especially when compared to a polished prizefighter like Pacquiao.
