A world champion boxer shouldn’t be proud of the legendary Manny Pacquiao after combat talks fell via. Rolly Romero says he’s “essentially the most averted fighter in boxing,” and his newest feedback body that declare round a string of missed big-fight alternatives, a stalled Manny Pacquiao deal, and a yr of inactivity that has left him calling himself “retired” for now. The WBA welterweight champion has additionally argued that he’s chasing legacy, not simply cash, and says the game retains speaking about him whereas fights maintain falling aside.
Romero was blunt in describing how he sees his profession proper now. “I acquired ducked by everyone. I’m the one champion in historical past that’s gotten ducked for 5 megafights. It’s remarkable. However I’m a bum? With a belt and a excessive ticket payday? One thing’s not including up,” he mentioned. He added in an interview with ToonieBet: “They’re all scared. We provided all of them nice offers, nice splits, all the things. They even acknowledged it was good cash, however they don’t need to combat. They get scared. I’m essentially the most averted fighter in boxing”.
He has mentioned he believes rival camps have saved him ready whereas public discuss round his title saved rising. Romero’s argument is that the hole between what is claimed in interviews and what occurs on the negotiating desk has turn out to be the story of his profession simply coming off a high-profile win over Ryan Garcia.
Rolly Romero Claims Manny Pacquiao Combat Fell Aside After Two Months of Talks
A serious a part of Romero’s frustration comes from the failed talks with Manny Pacquiao. ESPN reported in October 2025 that negotiations for a January combat between Pacquiao and Romero had begun, whereas different shops later reported that the WBA ordered Romero to face obligatory challenger Shakhram Giyasov as a substitute. Protection in early 2026 mentioned the Pacquiao talks had collapsed after the sanctioning physique wouldn’t transfer Giyasov apart.
Romero has since taken goal at Pacquiao’s facet. “We negotiated the Pacquiao combat for 2 months. He saved asking for more cash though he couldn’t generate what he was asking for. Then the combat collapsed and later everybody blamed Floyd Mayweather for taking the fight. Floyd didn’t take my combat. The deal was already lifeless. They only used me for clout,” he mentioned. That model strains up with later stories that the deal by no means turned closing and that Romero’s crew additionally sought an exception from the WBA to permit the Pacquiao bout to occur first.
Romero has additionally described himself as retired, although he says it’s not his selection. “As of proper now, I’m retired. I’m a retired investor on a pension,” he mentioned. He adopted that with: “It’s not my fault that I’m retired now. I’m not the one selecting to be retired. I don’t field for cash. I field as a result of I need to be champion. I like being champion. I need to go to the Corridor of Fame.”
That stance helps clarify the tone of his latest remarks. Relatively than presenting retirement as a closing exit, Romero seems to be utilizing it as a criticism of the present state of his profession: titleholder, public draw, however no combat in place. For now, the result’s a champion saying he has been frozen out whereas nonetheless insisting he needs the most important names accessible.
