Manny Pacquiao attempted to break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in history last year, but had to settle for a draw against Mario Barrios. He may now get a second chance.

Pacquiao returned to professional action in July 2025 to challenge then-WBC champion Barrios. Had he won, he would have extended the record he first set by defeating Keith Thurman in 2019 at the age of 40.

The majority draw was enough to keep ‘PacMan’s comeback alive, and he subsequently booked a rematch with Floyd Mayweather. That bout has since been postponed due to the American’s ongoing legal issues, leaving Pacquiao open to another fight before it is eventually rescheduled.

Should he decide to challenge for a world title at 147lbs again, Australia’s Liam Paro – who claimed the IBF belt last month with victory over Lewis Crocker – appears ready and willing.

Speaking to The Australian before Paro’s win over Crocker, the Australian’s promoter George Rose of No Limit Boxing made it clear that Pacquiao was his dream opponent.

“Manny is the one fight we want to make for Liam. Imagine Manny coming back to Australia.

“Ryan Garcia, Devin Haney and Rolly Romero all hold world titles at welterweight, but we don’t have to do a unification fight.

“When Jeff Horn fought Manny, he didn’t have the belt. It would be unreal. Imagine doing a card with Manny, Paro and possibly the two Tszyus. It would be sensational.”

Paro was Jeff Horn’s chief sparring partner ahead of the Australian’s upset victory over Pacquiao in 2017, one of the most controversial decisions of the Filipino legend’s career.

Fighting in front of more than 50,000 fans at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium, Pacquiao lost his WBO welterweight title via unanimous decision despite many observers believing he had done enough to retain it, particularly after nearly stopping Horn in the ninth round. Pacquiao later accused Horn of repeatedly using headbutts and elbows throughout the contest.

A return to Australia with the chance to make history once again could therefore prove an attractive option for Pacquiao, although mandatory challenger Paddy Donovan may have something to say about whether Paro is free to pursue such a blockbuster.

Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis put in a performance of the year candidate to become a unified super-welterweight world champion last month. Now, the Philadelphian is being linked to a host of major fights in the 154lb division, but promoter Eddie Hearn believes that there is one clear frontrunner.

Ennis dethroned Xander Zayas in style, halting the Puerto Rican inside six rounds to capture the WBA and WBO super-welterweight marbles and announce himself as the man to beat in the super-welterweight scene.

Since then, Ennis has been mentioned for meetings with WBC world champion, Sebastian Fundora, and long-term rival, Vergil Ortiz Jnr – who is yet to fight since November due to an ongoing lawsuit with Golden Boy Promotions.

Although, Fundora is now expected to take on mandatory challenger, Ermal Hadribeaj, who claimed the WBC Silver title by outpointing Bakary Samake in May.

However, one man that will presumably be available is IBF world titleholder, Josh Kelly, who is also promoted by Hearn. Speaking to iFL TVHearn unveiled that there is a ‘very good chance that Kelly will fight Ennis in November’, if he successfully retains his belt in a well-rumoured maiden title defence later this month.

“Boots wants all of the belts, he is desperate to become undisputed. Josh Kelly is fighting [on the Anthony Joshua undercard]I know it’s the worst kept secret in the world, there will be an undercard announcement soon.”

“When he [Kelly] comes through that fight, there is a very good chance that Josh Kelly will fight Boots in November. Yes, [in America].”

It is understood that Kelly will face off with Belfast’s Caoimhin Agyarko on the Joshua-Prenga undercard on Saturday, July 25, with a victory seemingly teeing up a major unification affair between he and Ennis, which would likely take place in Philadelphia.

Peter Fury has helped develop some of boxing’s biggest names over the last two decades, and the veteran trainer believes another member of the Fury family has all the attributes needed to reach the top.

Known for guiding nephew Tyson Fury to his famous victory over Wladimir Klitschko and the unified heavyweight championship in 2015, Peter has also enjoyed success with son Hughie Fury and former undisputed super-middleweight champion Savannah Marshall. More recently, he earned widespread praise for his work with Dutch kickboxing star Rico Verhoeven, who gave Oleksandr Usyk a competitive night’s work in last month’s heavyweight world title challenge.

Now, Peter’s attention has turned to another nephew, James Dean Fury, who recently announced his decision to join the professional ranks.

A multiple-time national amateur champion and cousin of former heavyweight king Tyson Fury, James Dean has made no secret of his ambitions after signing with BOXXER.

Speaking to Boxing King Media following the announcement of his professional move, the young heavyweight said he has no doubts about where he can eventually reach.

“At the minute, all that I want to do is get to the best version of myself and achieve my dream of becoming a world champion and whoever that may be, at the time, will get it for sure. I believe in my own self, I believe that I am the best in the world and all I need is the experience and the rounds and then I will definitely get there, for sure.”

Peter Fury is equally convinced. Speaking to About Boxingthe respected trainer admitted he is especially motivated by the opportunity to guide another member of his family to world honours.

“I’m really excited about him because he is as good as he speaks, if he wasn’t, he wouldn’t be with me. He has been with me from a child, he is close to me, I look at him like he is my boy, like he is my son. I’ve got a vested interest in him because he is my boy, isn’t he? He is my brother’s son and I have had him from a baby.

“So there is a big reward for me to see this young kid strive to the top – and he will. He will because I will make it that way and, if I have got anything to do with it, he will. Believe me, he is a talent.”

Having already signed promotional terms with BOXXER, James Dean Fury is now expected to learn the date and venue of his professional debut in the near future, with an official announcement anticipated soon.