BOXING

Pacquiao eyeing exhibition match

Nick Giongco··1 MIN READ

Manny Pacquiao hasn’t seen action since battling Mario Barrios to a draw last year in Las Vegas.

Manny Pacquiao hasn’t seen action since battling Mario Barrios to a draw last year in Las Vegas.

Photograph courtesy of Wendell Alinea

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Eight-division legend Manny Pacquiao will have to hope and pray that Floyd Mayweather succeeds in settling all of his legal woes in the next few months for their rematch to happen in January 2027.

In the meantime, Manny Pacquiao Promotions chief executive officer Jas Mathur said on Monday that the direction they are looking at is an exhibition fight in the last quarter of 2026.

“We are working on it,” said Mathur during a press conference in Makati City as he stressed that Mayweather is in a mess with all his problems.

Last time Pacquiao was in action took place almost a year ago in Las Vegas where he almost won the World Boxing Council welterweight title from Mario Barrios.

The bout ended on a draw but it was believed that the Filipino great had done enough to merit the decision.

Mathur said getting Pacquiao back in fiery form should not be a problem given the fighter’s work ethic and attitude.

“He’s always in shape,” said Mathur.

Initially, Pacquiao and Mayweather were penciled to square off this September in Las Vegas.