A real earthquake occurred in the Philippine and world sports community when a video suddenly went viral on social media, in which boxing legend Manny Pacquiao declared frankly and passionately: “I want to fight the legend – Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes!” Immediately, this seemingly joking statement erupted into a wave of heated debate among boxing fans, billiards, and international sports media.
A battle between two living legends, two national icons, took place not on the ring or the professional billiards table, but a clash between respect, passion, and the spirit of the highest sportsmanship. Manny Pacquiao – who has made the Philippines famous with a series of world championship titles in eight different weight classes – is no stranger to challenges.
In his two decades of fighting, Pacquiao has faced some of the world’s best boxers, from Mayweather to Cotto to Thurman. But this time, the challenge is not from another boxer, but from a cueist – the so-called “Wizard” of the world of billiards – Efren ‘Bata’ Reyes.
In an intimate interview on national television, Pacquiao was unexpectedly asked if he could choose a Filipino sports legend to duel – not a boxer – who would he choose? Without hesitation, Pacquiao laughed loudly and immediately replied: “Efren Reyes! I know he is a legend of billiards, but I don’t mind sitting at the table and trying my luck.
I want to challenge myself against the best!” The statement exploded like a bomb in the hearts of the sports community, because fans had never imagined the scene of Pacquiao with his gloves replaced by a cue stick, standing in front of a calm Reyes with sharp eyes behind his familiar glasses.
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The story became more serious when Reyes himself spoke up in response. In a short interview posted on social media, Reyes smiled gently and replied: "If Manny wants to fight, I'm ready. But I'm afraid I'm old, and he has too much energy." An answer that was both modest and full of hidden meaning. Because everyone knows that, despite being nearly 70 years old, Reyes' skills are still at their peak, with the ability to read the table, solve the ball situation and "unimaginable" shots that no one has been able to imitate to this day.
Experts immediately divided into two opinions. One side enthusiastically supports the exchange between the two living icons, seeing this as an opportunity to connect two sports communities that rarely interact – boxing and billiards. The other side is concerned that this is just a media stunt, a “show” rather than a real competition. But it cannot be denied that the information about this hypothetical match alone is enough to make the whole Philippines boil.
Fans quickly expressed their excitement. A series of hashtags such as #PacquiaoVsReyes, #FightTheLegend, #BilliardsChallenge began to spread on social media platforms. Humorous photos appeared everywhere – from Pacquiao holding a cue like a boxer to Reyes wearing boxing gloves. Many people even suggested organizing a charity exchange between the two, in which Pacquiao tries playing billiards, while Reyes pretends to be a boxer for a round for fun.
Interestingly, both legends are no strangers to each other's sport. Manny Pacquiao is an amateur player who is extremely passionate about billiards. On many occasions, he was seen playing with friends, even participating in small tournaments in his hometown. He owns a few billiards tables at his home and often challenges his friends. Meanwhile, Reyes has also shown his love for boxing and always follows big matches, especially those involving Manny.
Both are inspirational figures for Filipino youth. Pacquiao - from a poor boy selling bread on the street - rose to become a world superstar, a congressman, and a symbol of the spirit of never giving up. Reyes - who once did not have enough money to buy a cue, had to borrow someone else's cue to practice - became a famous name globally, with hundreds of major and minor titles and is considered the greatest billiard player of all time.
Therefore, Pacquiao's declaration of war is not just an entertaining statement. It reflects admiration, the desire to reach the top and honor the irreplaceable spiritual values in sports. An exchange - if it really happens - will not be a battle between boxing and billiards, but a dialogue between two true sports souls.
