Editor’s note: This article was originally published on DAZN.com.
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Mikey Garcia is aiming to be one of Manny Pacquiao’s final opponents before the eight-weight world titleholder retires, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
Pacquiao’s trainer, Freddie Roach, recently said that the 41-year-old wouldn’t be back in the ring this year and he’d likely compete “once or twice” in 2021 before running for president in his native Philippines in 2022.
Hearn recently told DAZN that Garcia (40-1, 30 KOs) could easily slot into the timetable set out by Pacquiao and Roach.
“Mikey Garcia is one of the fortunate ones that has boxed this year, so he’s not busting my phone up too much at the moment,” said Hearn. “But he wants to fight Manny Pacquiao.”
Garcia, 32, beat Jessie Vargas on Feb. 29 in Texas, meaning early 2021 could work for both him and Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs).
It is a showdown Hearn was looking at for a Saudi Arabia show this summer, but the COVID-19 pandemic got in the way.
The Matchroom Boxing chief admitted interest from somewhere like Saudi Arabia could be what determines whether Garcia-Pacquiao happens or not.
“It’s very difficult to make those sort of fights at the moment unless we get a big site fee from another country,” he said. “Mikey is basically that guy who wants the monstrous fights, and he’ll be looking to make that happen.”
Many of Hearn’s top fighters have been out of the ring even longer than Garcia, so they might be a higher priority for the promoter.
“For all of these top names, it’s just a case of getting them out just once this year,” he said. “Letting them get out there, letting them progress their career, letting them get paid, keeping their profile bubbling.
“And that’s the tough job for us now, coming through Fight Camp, trying to schedule all these major names and world champions without crowds. It’s going to be a tough task over the next couple of months.”
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