Jake Paul is closing in to strike Julio Chavez Jr.'s face at the Honda Center in Anaheim California on June 29th, 2025. IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire

Manny Pacquiao Makes His Opinion Of Jake Paul Extremely Clear

Originally posted on KO on SI | By Grant Young | Last updated Jul 16, 2025 4:41 PM ET

July 19 is one of the best nights of boxing in recent memory, as there are several world-class bout set to take place on multiple different cards.

Perhaps the most compelling is the fight between Manny Pacquiao and Mario Barrios for Barrios' WBC welterweight belt. Given how big of a global superstar Pacquiao is, combined with the fact that he's 46 years old and hasn't fought a professional bout since 2021, it's going to guarantee a ton of eyeballs when he takes the ring against the much younger Barrios.

The last time that Pacquiao won a professional fight (which came against Keith Thurman on July 20, 2019), Jake Paul still had not fought as a professional, as his pro debut came in January 2020. Since then, Paul has amassed 13 professional fights (with a 12-1 record) while Pacquiao has only fought once more as a pro and also added two exhibition bouts.

THE PROBLEM CHILD GETS IT DONE VIA UNANIMOUS DECISION

JAKE PAUL BEATS CESAR CHAVEZ JR. pic.twitter.com/OwegbpbIm8
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) June 29, 2025

Pacquiao did a July 15 interview on The Ariel Helwani Show. And at one point during the discussion, Pacquiao was asked his opinion about what Paul has done as a boxer.

"Jake Paul, he has a talent. He can fight in a real boxing match, so he can be a boxer," Pacquiao said, per an X post from Helwani.

When Pacquiao was then asked whether Paul has earned his respect, he added, "Yes, yes, yes. It's not good for the boxing industry to always have exhibition matches. Exhibition matches [are] okay, but not always exhibition, but need to always have an [evenly-matched] fight to entertain the fans."

Manny Pacquiao says Jake Paul has earned his respect:

"He has a talent. He can fight in a real boxing match, so he can be a boxer." pic.twitter.com/GyV7xJ9PaZ
— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) July 16, 2025

Perhaps Pacquiao thought Jake Paul's November 2024 bout against Mike Tyson was an exhibition. Regardless, Pacquiao clearly holds no ill will toward what Paul has done in the sport.

This article first appeared on KO on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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