MANNY PACQUIAO’S 72nd fight on Saturday could blast open the door to a sensational UK debut.
The Filipino icon, 42, faces Yordenis Ugas in Las Vegas for the WBA welterweight world title, with retirement talk thick in the Sin City air.
Another poor showing — like in his shock loss to Jeff Horn in 2017 — could send the Philippines senator into politics full time.
But winning could set up a battle with Scotland’s super-lightweight hero Josh Taylor.
Pacquiao, who was due to fight Errol Spence Jr before the American’s eye injury, said: “It’s going to be a good fight — it might be my last or more, we don’t know.
“I’ve no problem fighting anybody as long as it is at 147lb. As long as I am still in boxing, I’ll fight anybody.
“This is why I chose Errol Spence Jr, because I want to fight the best.
“I would also have no problem fighting Josh Taylor — that’s a great fight.”
FREE BETS: GET OVER £2,000 IN NEW CUSTOMER DEALS
The only Brit on Pacquiao’s 62-7-2 record so far is Ricky Hatton, who he KO’d inside two Vegas rounds in 2009. A dream clash with Amir Khan never got off the ground but golden oldie Pacman would travel to the UK to face Taylor — if he chooses to move a division.
Asked about a bout on these shores, Pacquiao grinned: “I hope that one day I could have a UK fight.”
Taylor is a fellow southpaw who idolised Pacquiao and even named his dog after him growing up.
The 30-year-old champ said: “Manny is a hero of mine so, when we named the dog, it came about naturally. I could never have dreamed back then of fighting him — but I would still love to now.
“As soon as that bell rang it would be down to business.
“He isn’t as young as he used to be but is still a top-level fighter so I’d need to be ruthless.”
Cuban Ugas is seven years younger than Pacquiao.
Ahead of their fight in the early hours on Sunday, he warned: “If this is Pacquiao’s final fight, he’s up against a world-class fighter.”
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
