MANNY PACQUIAO is officially out of retirement – and he’s targeting a big-name opponent for his ring return.
The former eight-weight world champion hung up his gloves in September 2021 a month after losing his WBA welterweight title fight with Yordenis Ugas.
Pacquiao, however, took part in an exhibition bout against South Korean DK Yoo in December 2022 and is set to face Muay Thai legend Buakaw in a second in April.
The 45-year-old recently teased a rematch with long-time rival Floyd Mayweather, which his manager Sean Gibbons has added fuel to by claiming the pride of the Philippines is no longer a retired fighter.
He told Boxing Scene: “Technically, he’s out of retirement.”
Pacquiao, according to Gibbons, plans to stick around for one more year and is targeting some of the biggest names in the sport.
READ MORE IN BOXING
He continued: “He would love to fight Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia. He’s got about a year left.
“He just wants to fight. Manny feels that he’s in tremendous shape.
“He’s training for this exhibition but hopefully that will lead to something bigger and better.”
A lucrative showdown with former UFC champion Conor McGregor has been on the cards for the best part of three years but has yet to materialise.
Most read in Boxing
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO WELCOME OFFERS
Pacman was on the receiving end of a callout from the MMA mogul last December, with The Notorious challenging him to a lucrative showdown in Saudi Arabia.
And a crossover clash with the UFC’s poster boy is something Gibbons insists Pacquiao is more than up for.
“I do [see a pro return for Pacquiao],” he said. “One of the fights that people talked about for a long time was Manny Pacquiao versus Conor McGregor.
“That’s something that will be sensational in Saudi Arabia, let’s go. It will be a good place to do it. It’s really simple.
“His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, [the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia], loves big events.
“And he’s putting on the best events.
“It’s a very intriguing and fun fight bringing two of the biggest names together in combat sports.”
McGregor, 35, hasn’t fought since breaking his leg in his trilogy fight with Dustin Poirier in July 2021 but will be welcomed back to the octagon by Michael Chandler later this year.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
