Manny Pacquiao has revealed that he is on the verge of signing to fight WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero as he nears his 47th birthday.
Boxing’s lone eight-weight world champion shared the news at a press conference in Quezon City, the Philippines, commemorating 50 years since the ‘Thrilla in Manilla’ between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
2
He will fight in custom-made ‘Back to the Future’ shoes with matching shortsCredit: Getty
“We are negotiating and finalising,” Pacquiao informed Filipino media when asked about the status of a fight with Romero.
Pacquiao ended a four-year hiatus from the paid ranks in July to come desperately close to dethroning WBC welterweight title holder Mario Barrios.
Several members of the boxing fraternity felt the veteran had done enough to get his hand raised, but in the end, the judges scored it a majority draw.
Undeterred by the result, Pacquiao affirmed in the immediate aftermath that he would box on.
While both Barrios and Pacquiao agreed to a rematch in the ring, ‘Pac Man’s’ long-time adviser Sean Gibbons insisted that a fight with Romero is a far more appealing proposition.
“I don’t see why Barrios again. There’s Rolly Romero, ‘Tank’ Davis. Why do it again?” Gibbons told BoxingScene shortly after his client’s comeback.
“Mario Barrios doesn’t draw anything and brings nothing to the table but that belt.
“Rolly Romero would be an unbelievably fun fight and one hell of a promotion.”
When the idea was put to Romero, the American loved it.
“A Hall of Famer on my resume, who wouldn’t want that?” Romero said of a potential dust-up with Pacquiao to BoxingScene.
2
Pacquiao’s contest with Barrios was ruled a majority drawCredit: Getty
“That’s the easiest way to get into the Hall of Fame, right?”
When is Manny Pacquiao’s next fight?
Pacquiao’s preference is to return to the ring in January or February, just after his 47th birthday on December 17.
Victory over Romero, who turns 30 in October, would make Pacquiao the second-oldest boxing world champion of all time.
However, beating Rolly on his current run of form would be no easy task.
The Las Vegas boxer bounced back from a stoppage loss to Isaac Cruz last year to record a career-best victory over Ryan Garcia for the vacant WBA 147lbs title in May.
There had been preliminary discussions between both camps over a rematch, but those conversations appear to have fizzled out.