The eight-division world champion has remained inactive since July 2025, when he engaged in a hard-fought majority decision draw during a WBC welterweight title clash against Mario Barrios. That performance once again showcased the remarkable durability and enduring skill of the future Hall of Famer, sparking intense speculation across the global boxing community regarding what his next move inside the squared circle might be.
Initially, the boxing world anticipated that the Filipino trailblazer would finally secure a long-awaited professional rematch with his former rival, Floyd Mayweather, sometime this year. However, when those negotiations ultimately fell through and the high-profile contest failed to materialize, attention quickly shifted elsewhere. Pacquiao was subsequently linked to a high-profile appearance on the undercard of the massive Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua event
scheduled for next month.
That potential landing spot has now also fallen by the wayside, leaving the veteran icon’s immediate schedule open. Yet, an intriguing new opportunity has swiftly emerged from the United Kingdom. Conor Benn, a notable recent world title challenger, has openly revealed to Sky Sports that he is intensely interested in sharing the ring with the legendary Filipino southpaw, opening the door for a potential clash in the first quarter of next year after a scheduling conflict prevented a December bout.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Benn expressed profound admiration for Pacquiao’s unparalleled legacy in the sport while outlining why a matchup between them makes sense from both a competitive and promotional standpoint.
“He’s an all-time legend. He’s an eight-division world champion. He’ll go down in the history books. Another stadium show sounds nice,” Benn stated, acknowledging the massive global appeal that a fight involving Pacquiao invariably commands.
Benn elaborated on the timeline of the negotiations, explaining how a late-year date ultimately proved impractical given his personal commitments and the demanding physical requirements of making weight.
“I know the Pacquiao fight was offered to me for December. And I wasn’t ready to get the fight done in December. But if he wants it Q1 next year, we can do Pacquiao,” Benn said. “December was just too soon, making weight, I’ve got a new-born son, so for me it was really about spending time with my family. If Q1, he wants to get it on again, I’m interested.”
For Benn, the temptation to face an icon of Pacquiao’s stature appears to outweigh previous career plans. The British welterweight last stepped into the ring in September, suffering a disappointing second-round stoppage loss to WBC welterweight champion Ryan Garcia in a high-stakes encounter that tested his championship credentials at 147 pounds. Following that defeat, Benn had insisted that his outing against Garcia would mark his final appearance in the welterweight division as he contemplated a move upward in weight.
However, the prospect of securing a legacy-defining fight against a living legend like Pacquiao appears to have altered his perspective. Benn’s willingness to re-engage with the division suggests that he is prepared to put any divisional transition on hold should the logistical details fall into place for an early-year showdown.
Emphasizing his readiness to step back into training camp and prepare for the unique challenges that Pacquiao presents, Benn made it clear that his commitment to the sport remains unwavering despite the setbacks of his recent campaign.
“I’m always in the gym, always working, if he wants it Q1 next year, we can do it, no problem,” Benn affirmed.
As the boxing calendar prepares to turn toward a new year, the division waits to see whether promoters can bridge the gap and formalize terms between the seasoned Filipino pioneer and the ambitious British contender. With both fighters displaying a mutual openness to the contest, a potential early-year stadium spectacle could be firmly on the horizon, adding yet another fascinating storyline to the ever-unpredictable landscape of professional boxing.
