Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, the longtime trainer for Terence Crawford, recently identified Manny Pacquiao as the one legendary opponent he wishes his fighter had faced before transitioning toward the end of his career.
Speaking on the Front Page podcast, Brian McIntyre suggested that the highly anticipated matchup never came to fruition because of promotional interference from Bob Arum. The coach alleged that the veteran promoter sought to protect Manny Pacquiao as a “cash cow” and feared a loss to Terence Crawford would damage that financial value.
Terence Crawford holds a professional record of 42 wins and 0 losses following a significant victory over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez on September 13, 2025. That win at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas saw the Omaha native move up in weight to secure a unanimous decision.
Since that performance, Terence Crawford has remained coy about his future and has not officially confirmed his retirement, though rumors about his departure from the sport continue to circulate as he approaches 38.
The win over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez added to a resume that already saw Terence Crawford become a world champion in five different weight classes and the first man to reign as a three-division undisputed champion.
Despite these historic accolades, Brian McIntyre admitted that the absence of Manny Pacquiao’s name remains a notable “what if” for the camp. He claimed that Bob Arum, who previously worked with both fighters under Top Rank, blocked the fight to avoid “messing up that money.”
Brian McIntyre names Manny Pacquiao as the definitive missed opponent
During his appearance on the Front Page podcast, Brian McIntyre was asked if there were any specific fighters Terence Crawford should have faced to further cement an already legendary status. He named Manny Pacquiao without hesitation, stating, “That’d have been great.” The trainer’s comments suggest that while Terence Crawford is content, the boxing business ultimately prevented a generation-defining clash between the two elite champions.
Terence Crawford reportedly pushed for a fight against the Filipino icon as far back as 2015 while he was campaigning at super-lightweight. At the time, the Omaha switch-hitter was a rising force, but Manny Pacquiao remained one of the sport’s biggest global draws.
Brian McIntyre noted that Bob Arum recently admitted to stopping the bout because he understood the competitive risks involved for his star attraction. Interestingly, Manny Pacquiao has previously claimed that the promoter was actually protecting the American from him.
The debate over Terence Crawford’s level of opposition has persisted despite his recent dominance. Critics such as Ryan Garcia have argued that the former undisputed king lacks enough elite names on his record.
This revelation from Brian McIntyre indicates that the camp was actively seeking those legacy-defining bouts, even if promotional hurdles stood in the way. For a look at how other all-time greats view their rivalry history, Roberto Duran identifies his most astute opponent from a different era of the sport.
Terence Crawford and the retirement question after Canelo victory
While Brian McIntyre believes Terence Crawford may still have two or three fights left in him, the fighter himself has not committed to a return. Following the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez victory, Saul Canelo Alvarez claimed a rematch would be different, but Terence Crawford has shown little public interest in a second meeting.
He has also notably rejected rumors of a comeback during major international fight weeks, including the recent high-profile events in Egypt.
Instead of looking backward, Terence Crawford has occasionally weighed in on potential challenges in higher weight classes. Brian McIntyre has mentioned that unified middleweight champion Janibek Alimkhanuly would be a welcome challenge at 160 lbs if Terence Crawford chooses to test himself again.
However, the trainer has firmly ruled out a potential clash with David Benavidez, stating that the camp has no interest in that specific matchup at this stage of his career.
Terence Crawford’s current status is a sharp contrast to that of Manny Pacquiao, who remains active on the sport’s periphery. The 47-year-old Filipino returned to professional action recently, fighting to a draw against former WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios. While com/terence-crawford-retirement-usyk-egypt-update/”>Terence Crawford remains non-committal about boxing again, Manny Pacquiao is reportedly planning a rematch with Floyd Mayweather later this year, though official details on that exhibition remain scarce.
Reflecting on a legacy of switch-hitting dominance
Terence Crawford has often been compared to Floyd Mayweather, even stating himself that the retired legend is the only fighter he believes could have potentially beaten him. Brian McIntyre has gone a step further, asserting that his pupil is “better than Mayweather” in terms of overall skill and output.
This confidence reflects the trainer’s belief that a prime Manny Pacquiao would have suffered a similar fate as other rivals who faced the Omaha native.
The modern era is frequently defined by the major fights that fail to materialize due to promotional politics. For the Crawford-McIntyre camp, the Manny Pacquiao saga is the primary example of a missed opportunity that would have silenced many of the fighter’s remaining detractors.
Regardless of that missing name, the 42-0 record and undisputed titles in three weight classes ensure that Terence Crawford’s position in the history books is secure.
If Terence Crawford does decide to walk away now, he does so having defeated one of the faces of boxing in Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Brian McIntyre advised the Mexican star to rest and assess his own future, noting that his legacy is already cemented.
For the Omaha camp, the satisfaction of reaching the pinnacle of the sport seemingly outweighs the regret of the “cash cow” fight that got away.
