At 46 years old, Manny Pacquiao is lacing up the gloves again. This weekend, he steps into the ring against 30-year-old Mario Barrios for the interim WBC title. During his media rounds, the Filipino legend decided to settle a debate that has recently heated up with back-and-forth comments between the two camps: prime Floyd Mayweather vs. prime Roy Jones Jr. His answer?
Manny Pacquiao Lights Up the Mayweather vs. Roy Jones Debate With Bold Claim originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The boxing icon returns to the ring this weekend but made headlines with a spicy take on two legends.
At 46 years old, Manny Pacquiao is lacing up the gloves again. This weekend, he steps into the ring against 30-year-old Mario Barrios for the interim WBC title. That alone is headline-worthy—one of boxing’s all-time greats chasing history yet again. But Pacquiao didn’t just make news for fighting. During his media rounds, the Filipino legend decided to settle a debate that has recently heated up with back-and-forth comments between the two camps: prime Floyd Mayweather vs. prime Roy Jones Jr. His answer? No hesitation, no sugarcoating.
Speaking with Fight Hub TV, Pacquiao leaned in and let it be known 'Roy Jones, you know Roy Jones, right? Roy Jones is Roy Jones!, and in his prime? Man, fast, footwork, strong.' When asked if Jones could knock Mayweather out, Pacquiao didn’t blink: 'I think so.' Just like that, the eight-division champion dropped a take that will have boxing Twitter buzzing.
Pacquiao knows Mayweather better than most—he shared the ring with him in a record-breaking bout that fans still debate, though mostly for its lack of fireworks. Now, as Pacquiao preps for Barrios, history looms large.
A win makes him the oldest fighter to claim a WBC title and the only eight-division champion in boxing history to capture another belt more than two decades after his first back in 1998. Love him or doubt him, Pacquiao’s still chasing greatness—and stirring up some drama along the way.
Related: Manny Pacquiao’s Comeback Targets Two Historic Records—At Once
Related: A Hall of Fame Rival Sends Bold Prediction About Pacquiao vs. Barrios
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jul 18, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: General Sports
