Pacquiao, 47, Nearing December WBA Title Fight With Romero

Manny Pacquiao is in negotiations, finalizing a fight to challenge Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero for his WBA welterweight title in December.

It’s a fight that has very little meaning, and there’s not a high level of interest. Rolly is viewed as a paper champion, and Pacquiao as a relic from the past that doesn’t belong fighting for world titles at his advanced age.

The Age Factor: Pacquiao at 47

Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) is getting a second consecutive world title shot after battling to a controversial 12-round majority draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios on July 19, 2025, in Las Vegas. The Filipino star Pacquiao did not look at all good in his fight against Barrios.

The skills that he once had were gone, and the only reason he didn’t get wiped out was how poor Barrios looked.

“We are negotiating and finalising,” said Manny Pacquiao via DAZN about a fight against Rolly Romero.

The matchup is already being heavily criticized by fans, who feel that Pacquiao doesn’t deserve to fight for a world title. He turns 47 on December 17 and has fought just once in the last four years since 2021.

It’s seen as an unfair fight that has nothing to do with sports and everything to do with business. World title fights are supposed to be earned through merit, not bestowed based on popularity.

What About Shakhram Giyasov?

Pacquiao is being allowed to jump ahead of WBA mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov, who has been waiting since June 17, 2023, for his world title shot after defeating Harold Calderon by a 12-round unanimous decision in a title eliminator.

A year later in September 2024, the WBA ordered a fight between former welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis and Giyasov. Instead of that fight happening, Stanionis fought then IBF champion Jaron Ennis in a unification clash on April 12, 2025.

Giyasov stepped aside, allowing the unification fight to happen between those two. The winner of the fight was supposed to defend against Giyasov within 120 days.  Ennis chose to vacate his IBF and WBA titles to move up to 154 after defeating Stanionis. Rolly was then elevated to WBA welterweight champion on August 1, 2025, following Ennis’ decision to vacate and move up to 154.

Rolly’s Size Advantage Over Pacquiao

Rolly looked huge, resembling a junior middleweight, after rehydrating for his fight against Ryan Garcia on May 2, 2025. It was too much size for the former lightweight contender Ryan to deal with, and he wound up losing to Romero by a 12-round unanimous decision. Rolly should be fighting at 154 at this stage of his career.