Manny Pacquiao has officially disappeared from the World Boxing Council rankings, marking a definitive end to his latest stint as a rated contender with the organization just over a year after he arguably should have been crowned reigning champion.
The legendary eight-division world champion, whose storied career spans decades and multiple weight classes, was still listed at No. 9 in the WBC rankings as recently as August. However, he vanished completely from the ratings in September, remaining unranked through October. This unceremonious departure concludes a gradual slide down the ladder that began after his high-profile return to the ring in July 2025.
For months following his bout against Mario Barrios, Pacquiao had maintained a foothold in the upper reaches of the WBC rankings. Yet, without stepping back into the ring to defend or improve his position, the Filipino icon steadily drifted downward before being removed from the list entirely.
The reality of his current ranking status highlights a frustrating turn of events for a fighter who, not long ago, stood agonizingly close to securing another improbable championship belt.
Pacquiao’s WBC Ranking Falls
The trajectory of Pacquiao’s ranking began to shift following his return from retirement at the age of 46. In July 2025, the "Pac-Man" traveled to Las Vegas to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC welterweight title. It was a matchup that captivated the boxing world, framing a potential narrative of sporting redemption that felt straight out of a Hollywood script.
The majestic Cinderella story appeared to be within his grasp over the course of the bout. Pacquiao produced an exceptional, vintage performance that convinced a vast majority of ringside observers and boxing experts that he had done more than enough to earn the decision and claim the WBC championship.
Instead, the contest was declared a majority draw by the judges. The controversial scorecards stripped away what would have undoubtedly been another historic achievement in an already legendary career filled with monumental milestones. It was a familiar feeling for Pacquiao, who had walked out of arenas in Las Vegas on previous occasions believing that controversial scoring had denied him a deserved victory.
Despite the outcome, the WBC acknowledged the elite caliber of his performance. Rather than dropping him from the title picture, the sanctioning body kept Pacquiao firmly positioned among the top contenders, recognizing his enduring competitiveness at the highest level of the sport.
By June of the following year, however, warning signs began to emerge. World Boxing News reported that Pacquiao had slipped to No. 8 in the rankings, noting that an approaching twelve-month period of inactivity could ultimately jeopardize his standing within the organization. As the months pressed on without a return, those warnings materialized. A No. 9 ranking in August gave way to complete removal by September, leaving Pacquiao with no rating heading into the final stretch of the year.
Pacquiao Loses Title Route
The timing of his removal from the rankings deals a notable blow to Pacquiao’s immediate sporting ambitions, particularly as rumors surrounding another potential comeback begin to gather momentum with his 48th birthday fast approaching.
With his position in the official sanctioning body ladders gone, the landscape of potential opponents has shifted dramatically. Former two-time welterweight champion Shawn Porter has recently returned to training and has surfaced as a viable opponent. Discussions have centered around a possible matchup on the undercard of the high-profile Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua event scheduled for December 11, or alternatively as the main attraction of a standalone Pacquiao card in early 2027.
In addition to Porter, British star Amir Khan has also been mentioned in discussions regarding a high-profile return bout.
The fact that Pacquiao continues to be linked to lucrative, high-profile bouts as he nears his 48th birthday is a testament to his unparalleled athletic longevity and enduring drawing power. In the absence of an immediate pathway to a legitimate world championship, arranging bouts focused on spectacle and entertainment—such as clashes with veterans like Porter or Khan—makes a pragmatic kind of sense.
The situation stood in stark contrast earlier in the year, when legitimate championship opportunities within the governing bodies appeared attainable. Pacquiao potentially had a direct route to another WBC championship fight at super welterweight. Former world titleholder Keith Thurman openly expressed a willingness to face Pacquiao if the Filipino star captured the belt, while reigning standout Sebastian Fundora confirmed to World Boxing News that he would enthusiastically welcome a fight against the veteran superstar.
When asked directly about offering Pacquiao a title opportunity, Fundora told World Boxing News, “Absolutely, absolutely, I’d love that fight.”
Instead of pursuing those divisional title routes, Pacquiao spent a significant portion of 2026 chasing a lucrative, blockbuster rematch against his career-long rival, Floyd Mayweather Jr. That anticipated rematch ultimately failed to materialize. While Pacquiao waited for negotiations to bear fruit, time ticked away, and the inactivity cost him the WBC ranking that had kept him securely in the championship conversation.
Without a rating from the WBC or any other major world sanctioning body, Pacquiao currently finds himself positioned outside the traditional qualification routes required to challenge for a world championship.
This administrative reality renders alternative matchups—such as encounters with Porter or Khan—increasingly logical if the former champion wishes to continue lacing up the gloves in his late forties while potentially keeping the door open for a future Mayweather bout.
The reality that Pacquiao remains commercially viable and globally relevant enough to headline major combat sports events at nearly 48 years old speaks volumes about the magnitude of his career. Yet, for many long-time observers, a lingering sense of what might have been remains.
Manny Pacquiao held a legitimate, hard-earned claim to being the WBC welterweight champion at the age of 46. That extraordinary athletic achievement was fully within his grasp in Las Vegas, only for the official scorecards to alter the course of history and leave his final chapter still searching for its ultimate conclusion.
