World champion boxer Rolly Romero is expressing dissatisfaction with legendary fighter Manny Pacquiao following the breakdown of their anticipated fight negotiations. Romero, the WBA welterweight champion, asserts he is “the most avoided fighter in boxing.” He attributes this to a series of missed major fight opportunities, including a stalled deal with Pacquiao, and a year of inactivity, leading him to describe himself as “retired” for the moment.
Romero maintains that his pursuit is for legacy, not solely financial gain, and notes that while the sport frequently discusses him, actual fights fail to materialize. He described his current career situation bluntly: “I got ducked by everybody. I’m the only champion in history that’s gotten ducked for five megafights. It’s unheard of. But I’m a bum? With a belt and a high ticket payday? Something’s not adding up.” He elaborated in an interview with ToonieBet, stating, “They’re all scared. We offered them all great deals, great splits, everything. They even acknowledged it was good money, but they don’t want to fight. They get scared. I am the most avoided fighter in boxing.”
Romero believes that rival camps have deliberately delayed proceedings while public interest in him has grown. He argues that the disconnect between public statements and actual negotiation outcomes has defined his career, especially after his high-profile victory over Ryan Garcia.
Rolly Romero: Manny Pacquiao Fight Collapsed After Two Months of Negotiations
A significant source of Romero’s frustration stems from the failed negotiations with Manny Pacquiao. Reports from October 2025 indicated that discussions for a January fight between Pacquiao and Romero had commenced. Subsequent reports suggested the WBA had ordered Romero to face mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov. By early 2026, coverage confirmed the collapse of the Pacquiao talks, as the sanctioning body refused to postpone Giyasov’s mandatory challenge.
Romero has since directed criticism towards Pacquiao’s camp. “We negotiated the Pacquiao fight for two months,” he stated. “He kept asking for more money even though he couldn’t generate what he was asking for. Then the fight collapsed and later everyone blamed Floyd Mayweather for taking the fight. Floyd didn’t take my fight. The deal was already dead. They just used me for clout.” This narrative aligns with later reports indicating that the deal never finalized and that Romero’s team had sought an exception from the WBA to prioritize the Pacquiao bout.
Romero has also referred to himself as retired, though he emphasizes this is not by his own volition. “As of right now, I am retired. I am a retired investor on a pension,” he remarked. He added, “It’s not my fault that I’m retired now. I’m not the one choosing to be retired. I don’t box for money. I box because I want to be champion. I like being champion. I want to go to the Hall of Fame.”
This perspective sheds light on his recent statements. Rather than presenting retirement as a definitive end, Romero seems to be using it to critique his current career situation: holding a title and drawing public attention, yet lacking a scheduled fight. Currently, this leaves the champion feeling sidelined despite his continued desire for matchups against prominent opponents.
English Translation:
A world champion boxer is expressing dissatisfaction with the legendary Manny Pacquiao after their potential fight negotiations fell through. Rolly Romero, the WBA welterweight champion, claims he is “the most avoided fighter in boxing.” He attributes this to a series of missed major fight opportunities, including a stalled deal with Pacquiao, and a year of inactivity, leading him to describe himself as “retired” for the moment.
Romero asserts that his pursuit is for legacy, not solely financial gain, and notes that while the sport frequently discusses him, actual fights fail to materialize. He described his current career situation bluntly: “I got ducked by everybody. I’m the only champion in history that’s gotten ducked for five megafights. It’s unheard of. But I’m a bum? With a belt and a high ticket payday? Something’s not adding up.” He elaborated in an interview with ToonieBet, stating, “They’re all scared. We offered them all great deals, great splits, everything. They even acknowledged it was good money, but they don’t want to fight. They get scared. I am the most avoided fighter in boxing.”
Romero believes that rival camps have deliberately delayed proceedings while public interest in him has grown. He argues that the disconnect between public statements and actual negotiation outcomes has defined his career, especially after his high-profile victory over Ryan Garcia.
Rolly Romero: Manny Pacquiao Fight Collapsed After Two Months of Negotiations
A significant source of Romero’s frustration stems from the failed negotiations with Manny Pacquiao. Reports from October 2025 indicated that discussions for a January fight between Pacquiao and Romero had commenced. Subsequent reports suggested the WBA had ordered Romero to face mandatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov. By early 2026, coverage confirmed the collapse of the Pacquiao talks, as the sanctioning body refused to postpone Giyasov’s mandatory challenge.
Romero has since directed criticism towards Pacquiao’s camp. “We negotiated the Pacquiao fight for two months,” he stated. “He kept asking for more money even though he couldn’t generate what he was asking for. Then the fight collapsed and later everyone blamed Floyd Mayweather for taking the fight. Floyd didn’t take my fight. The deal was already dead. They just used me for clout.” This narrative aligns with later reports indicating that the deal never finalized and that Romero’s team had sought an exception from the WBA to prioritize the Pacquiao bout.
Romero has also referred to himself as retired, though he emphasizes this is not by his own volition. “As of right now, I am retired. I am a retired investor on a pension,” he remarked. He added, “It’s not my fault that I’m retired now. I’m not the one choosing to be retired. I don’t box for money. I box because I want to be champion. I like being champion. I want to go to the Hall of Fame.”
This perspective sheds light on his recent statements. Rather than presenting retirement as a definitive end, Romero seems to be using it to critique his current career situation: holding a title and drawing public attention, yet lacking a scheduled fight. Currently, this leaves the champion feeling sidelined despite his continued desire for matchups against prominent opponents.
