Manny Pacquiao may acknowledge the work ethic and discipline Jake Paul has brought into boxing, but that respect does not translate into any interest in stepping into the ring with him—no matter the payday.
That distinction was made clear by Pacquiao’s longtime advisor, Sean Gibbons, while discussing the growing trend of crossover and spectacle-driven fights with Betway Insider. According to Gibbons, Pacquiao views Paul as a legitimate fighter who takes the sport seriously but draws a firm line on his own career choices.
“Manny respects Jake Paul,” Gibbons said. “He trains and works as hard as any fighter in the world. He is a real fighter.”
That respect, however, exists alongside Pacquiao’s belief that boxing should remain rooted in meaningful competition. Gibbons emphasized that Pacquiao has never been motivated solely by massive paydays or novelty matchups.
The conversation around Pacquiao and Paul surfaced as interest builds around Paul’s upcoming heavyweight clash with Anthony Joshua, scheduled for December 19 in Miami. Gibbons made it clear that Pacquiao sees Joshua’s advantages as overwhelming.
“You have to think Anthony Joshua has the experience, the size, and everything about it,” Gibbons said. “I have to believe Anthony wins, and he ends it when he wants to end it.”
While Pacquiao hasn’t publicly weighed in on the fight himself, Gibbons noted that the former eight-division world champion generally keeps his opinions private. Still, Pacquiao has previously encouraged fighters facing Paul, including Julio César Chávez Jr., even when the results didn’t go their way.
As for whether Pacquiao would ever consider a bout against Paul, Gibbons didn’t hesitate.
“Manny’s a real fighter. He’s a man of honor,” he said. “Manny fights for money when it makes sense. He just doesn’t fight for money to fight for money.”
Even a reported $35 million offer wouldn’t change that mindset. The weight disparity alone makes the idea a nonstarter, with Pacquiao competing at around 147 pounds and Paul weighing roughly 200 pounds.
“Manny wants to win real fights in his weight,” Gibbons added. “He’s never been about freak shows.”
