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Manny Pacquiao linked with surprise trip to Belfast for world title fight

Originally posted on Bloody Elbow | By Ross Markey | Last updated Oct 18, 2025 12:46 PM ET

Manny Pacquiao could be in for his first trip to Northern Ireland, in a rather surprising world championship charge.

Expected to make good on his return to boxing in the early stages of next year, former world champion megastar Manny Pacquiao snapped a lengthy hiatus earlier this summer.

And unfortunate to land the WBC welterweight crown, the Philippines puncher forced defending titleholder Mario Barrios the distance in a controversial majority decision draw.

However, with his targeted return date — as well as his targeted opponent now in jeopardy — Pacquiao has been offered a lifeline in the form of a trip to Belfast.

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Manny Pacquiao linked with Lewis Crocker showdown in Belfast

Initially targeted with a January return to the ring, Pacquiao may miss out on a targeted title showdown with WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero.

However, the governing body has now ordered a defense of the WBA crown held by Romero against the mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov.

And while it remains to be seen if Romero accepts the order or agrees to a step-aside deal to fight Pacquiao before Giyasov, Matchroom Boxing is exploring a potential title fight between Pacquiao and IBF kingpin Lewis Crocker in a career-first trip to Northern Ireland.

“There are great options and hopefully we will hear soon,” Frank Smith told Boxing Scene. “It could be interesting to bring Manny Pacquiao to Windsor Park. Of course (we are interested), it’s a huge name.

“You know, you could argue that he (Pacquiao) beat Mario Barrios in his fight last time,” Smith continued. “He didn’t get the decision, it was close, but yeah, Manny Pacquiao, there’s nothing bigger than that, right?”

Manny Pacquiao’s near UK debut against Amir Khan

Before his career retirement four years ago, Pacquiao was linked heavily to a career-first trip to the UK to fight another former world champion.

Confirming plans to take on former kingpin Amir Khan in a high-stakes pairing in 2017, Pacquiao and the Bolton puncher both confirmed on social media that they were on a collision course for a clash in April of that year.

Instead, following terse negotiations, Pacquiao put his WBO welterweight crown on the line, suffering a controversial loss to Jeff Horn over the course of 12 rounds in Australia.

This article first appeared on Bloody Elbow and was syndicated with permission.

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