MANNY Pacquiao, at age 47, is hell-bent on becoming a world boxing champion again.
A high-profile, albeit non-title rematch, was supposed to take place this September against American rival Floyd Mayweather Jr.
The fight was postponed indefinitely due to contractual disputes surrounding Mayweather’s camp.
Pacquiao turned his attention to the incumbent world champions of the welterweight (147 lbs.) division, but the big guns in the weight class seemed busy.
WBC welterweight champ Ryan Garcia (25-2, 1 no contest, 20 knockouts) is booked to defend his title on Sept. 12 against British slugger Conor Benn.
WBA welterweight champion Rolando “Rolly” Romero (17-2, with 13 knockouts) is set to defend his crown opposite former world champ Teofimo Lopez on Aug. 22.
Negotiations for a fight between Pacquiao and Romero collapsed early this year primarily because the WBA refused to grant Romero an exemption to bypass his mandatory title defense against Shakhram Giyasov. Financial disagreements and side claims over purse demands also stalled the talks.
Romero claimed Pacquiao asked for the moon.
WBO welterweight champ Devin Haney was directed by the WBO to make a mandatory defense against No. 1 contender Keyshawn Davis.
IBF welterweight champ Liam Paro (28-1, 16 knockouts) is actually available and expressed interest in fighting Pacquiao in Australia.
Paro is not a marquee name and we all know what happened the last time Pacquiao fought Down Under: the Pacman got robbed in a title fight against Jeff Horn in July 2017.
The big names in the welterweight champ seemed fully booked, until the schedule of WBO champ Haney opened up recently.
As aforestated, Haney had been ordered to make a mandatory defense against Davis.
But a funny thing happened while the fighters were on the negotiating table.
Top Rank Promotions won the promotional rights for the fight with an $8.55 million bid.
The purse split was 75 percent ($6.41 million) for champ Haney and 25 percent ($2.14 million) for challenger Davis.
The unbeaten Davis (15-0, 10 knockouts) was set to receive a career-high purse but surprisingly turned it down. Davis wanted a larger net guarantee, but Top Rank refused to budge.
With Davis turning down the offer, he forfeited his mandatory challenger status.
The WBO has confirmed Davis’ withdrawal and, as of this writing, the WBO’s Championship and Ratings Committees are pondering on the organization’s next ruling.
Here’s the rub: Haney is no longer obligated to make a mandatory defense and can personally pick who he wants to fight next.
The WBO’s latest rankings in the welterweight champion now lists Brian Norman Jr. as No.1, Teofimo Lopez at No.2, Richardson Hitchins at No. 3, and Pacquiao at No. 4.
Haney defeated Norman Jr. last Nov. 22 while Lopez already agreed to fight Romero for the WBO crown.
The fighters left on the table for Haney are No. 3 Hitchins and No. 4 Pacquiao.
American Hitchins is 21-0 with 8 knockouts and his biggest wins came against former unified lightweight champ George Kambosos Jr. and current IBF welterweight titlist Paro.
Between Hitchins and Pacquiao, however, it is Pacquiao who is clearly the bigger and marketable name.
Haney is guaranteed to bankroll a mega purse against the Filipino. He is a three-division world champion, having won titles in the lightweight (135 lbs.), junior welterweight (140 lbs.), and welterweight divisions.
Haney parades an unbeaten record of 33-0, 1 No Contest, with 15 knockouts, although not a few take his ledger with a grain of salt.
Haney actually got his butt whipped by Ryan Garcia in April 2024.
Haney lasted the full 12-round distance but was knocked down three times by Garcia.
Garcia won by majority decision, but the result was changed to a “no contest” after Garcia tested positive for a banned substance. Haney’s unbeaten record was restored.
As things stand, Pacquiao is clearly the logical choice for Haney.
Then again, will Pacquiao take the Haney bait?
Haney is a textbook out-boxer who relies on superior distance management, a dominant jab, and slick defensive movement rather than raw one-punch knockout power.
Given Pacquiao’s age, the Pacman will have a lot of chasing to do against Haney.
Simply put, Haney’s style can be troublesome for a 47-year-old Pacquiao.
The best fight for Pacquiao is actually WBO titlist Romero.
Romero packs power, but offers a flawed defense and a stationary stance Pacquiao can take advantage of.
Then again, there is also the big-money fight with Mayweather that may force Pacquiao to think twice.
Pacquiao may not want to jeopardize the Mayweather fight by facing the dangerous Haney.
Pacquiao, in fact, is leaning on a safe exhibition fight just to stay sharp for Mayweather.
Pacquiao definitely has a lot of pondering to do.
