Manny Pacquiao exploring fall title bout vs. Mario Barrios

From Mike Coppinger

A Manny Pacquiao-Mario Barrios WBC welterweight title fight is being explored for this fall in Las Vegas, Manny Pacquiao Promotions president Sean Gibbons told ESPN.

Pacquiao, 45, hasn't competed since an August 2021 decision loss to Yordenis Ugas. The all-time great boxer is a former senator in the Philippines (2016-22) and is expected to seek reelection next year as he attempts to finalize one final fight.

Barrios (29-2, 18 KOs) won the WBC interim welterweight title with a decision victory over Ugas in September. Terence Crawford was named champion in recess last month as he sets out to campaign at 154 pounds and it's expected Barrios will be elevated to champion.

Barrios, a 29-year-old from San Antonio, is ESPN's No. 5 welterweight. He has won three consecutive fights since back-to-back losses to Gervonta Davis and Thurman in 2021-22.

"I'm very excited at the possibility of this fight being made," Barrios said. "Manny Pacquiao is a future Hall of Famer, a legend and someone I looked up to growing up. To share the ring with him would be an honor and a dream come true."