If Tom Brady can thrive at 45, I believe Manny Pacquiao can too.
Confirming an ESPN report early Saturday, two boxing sources involved in the deal told BoxingScene that eight-division world champion Pacquiao is in “serious negotiations” to accept a WBC welterweight title bout against Mario Barrios, his first fight in three years.
The event will likely take place in September at either the MGM Grand or T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs), a Texas native, knocked out Fabian Maidana in the third round and won by unanimous decision to capture the interim WBC title on May 4.
Barrios, a former WBA 140-pound champion, is expected to be promoted to the WBC welterweight title after the WBC named unbeaten Terence Crawford its champion during the recess in preparation for the 154-pound title fight on August 3 in Los Angeles.
Barrios has struggled against the highest-profile opponents, having been stopped by Gervonta Davis in the 11th round in losing his belt in June 2021, then losing a unanimous decision to former welterweight champion Keith Thurman eight months later.
Still, Barrios dominated Cuba's Yordenis Ugas last year, knocking him down twice.
Pacquiao lost to Ugas by unanimous decision on the scorecards in his most recent bout in August 2021.
he He told BoxingScene earlier this week that he had signed a deal to fight in Japan for an exhibition bout and was looking forward to putting together what he calls a “real fight.”
He was set to face welterweight contender Conor Benn in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia earlier this year, but Benn remains suspended after failing a drugs test.
Pacquiao and Premier Boxing Champions have reunited following the Ugas bout and the promotion feels “without a doubt” that Pacquiao will emerge as a sharp, experienced fighter capable of winning an astonishing fifth welterweight belt.
Pacquiao's manager, Sean Gibbons, told BoxingScene that the fighter plans to visit his native Philippines by June 17. [I] Hopefully we can reach an agreement.”
PBC officials said Barrios plans to “go all in” to produce the bout, which will give PBC a strong lineup of cards on Amazon Prime Video, from a June 15 card headlined by Davis and light heavyweight David Benavidez to an October card headlined by a junior middleweight title fight between champion Sebastian Fandora and former welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr.
