Manny Pacquiao fought valiantly at 46 to a majority draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios in July.

The plan is for Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) to continue fighting as soon as December by his 47th birthday. There is a long line of young and hungry lions who are waiting for a bite at a big-money fight against the Filipino legend. The list is far and wide featuring the likes of Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia, Rolando Romero, Teofimo Lopez Jr. and many others.

Hall of Fame fighter and four-division champion Roy Jones Jr. believes Pacquiao can pick apart the competition with careful matchmaking.

“I honestly thought Pacquiao did enough to win the fight and he should be the world champion right now – it was a hell of a performance at 46,” Jones told The Ring.

“He's not going to go through the murderer's row again. But he can pick and choose a few of them, and give them all that they want. The ones that are mature like they are supposed to be at their age, and still have the youth, they are going to beat him because he's not at that age anymore. The ones that are struggling with their identity, with who they are, and where, he'll beat most of them.”

Jones fought well into his forties and realizes what Pacquiao is experiencing. Jones retired at 49 after beating Scott Sigmon in 2018 but returned in 2023 at 54 for an eight-rounder against MMA fighter Anthony Pettis, resulting in a majority decision defeat for Captain Hook. Jones also sandwiched in a highly lucrative exhibition match with Mike Tyson in 2020.

“The best thing about fighting at an older age is that you hear people say that you can't, you ain't, and you shouldn't,” Jones continued.

“For a real champion, those are the things you love to hear. That's what makes it even more fun. Yeah, it's hard because your body isn't the same. You have to treat and respect it a little differently, but the mind and heart is still there. When you put the two together, it creates the drive. You can bring the determination back, it's just about making it last.”

Jones went on to say that Pacquiao has had a better career than Floyd Mayweather Jr.