BOXING sensation Ryan Garcia has announced a blockbuster fight with WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao.
Preliminary talks over the shock bout began last weekend in the wake of Conor McGregor’s stunning defeat at UFC 257.
Ryan Garcia poses for a picture with Manny PacquiaoCredit: Instagram @mannypacquiao
And Garcia, 22, confirmed the match-up on Instagram in the early hours of Monday morning.
Alongside a poster of the pair, Garcia wrote: “A dream turned reality. It’s an honour to share the Ring with @mannypacquiao.
“I will always respect what you did in and out the ring. Here’s to the best Man Winning.”
It’s currently unclear what weight the contest will take place at, with Garcia being a lightweight and Pacquiao a welterweight.
Given Pacquiao’s age, 42, it’s likely Garcia will be moving up in weight rather than the Filipino dropping down.
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The fight has come together on the back of UFC superstar McGregor suffering a devastating second-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier last weekend in Abu Dhabi.
A fight between Pacquiao and McGregor had been in the works for some time, with the UFC’s poster boy revealing the bout was ‘as good as done’ after suffering the first stoppage defeat of his MMA career.
He said: “I always did want to focus on my MMA career, but I’m also open you know what I mean? I’ll just see what happens – I don’t know what will happen.
“That Manny [Pacquiao] fight was happening, you know what I mean? It was as good as done.
“I just want to get in and get back into a bounce, especially against that style of fighter and not take those kicks. Don’t play with those kicks. It’s just a motherf***er to take.”
The proposed date for Pacquiao vs Garcia is currently unknown, although the former will enter the contest on the back of a lengthy layoff.
The former eight-weight world champion has been on the sidelines since his unanimous decision victory over Keith Thurman in January 2019, a win which saw him claim the WBA welterweight title.
Garcia, meanwhile, was in action earlier this month, stopping British Olympic gold medallist Luke Campbell to claim the WBA interim lightweight title.
Manny Pacquiao hits punching bag with rapid speed
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
