Manny Pacquiao has begun training, tweets: ‘Big news coming soon’

Manny Pacquiao tweeted that he has begun training and that “big news coming soon.”

Well, Manny Pacquiao evidently is set to the return to the ring.

The future Hall of Famer tweeted Tuesday: “Training camp has begun. I’m ready to get back in the ring and to further add to my legacy in the sport of boxing. Big news coming soon.”

So what does that mean? We can only speculate.

If he’s starting camp now, that probably means he’ll fight in April or thereabouts. That’s based on common sense, which doesn’t always prevail in boxing.

Who might he face?

We know that representatives for Pacquiao and lightweight contender Ryan Garcia have been in talks for a sanctioned fight or an exhibition. Garcia seems to be the most likely choice.

Pacquiao said he wants to “add to my legacy.” Could an exhibition add to his legacy? Probably not. Maybe that means we can expect a sanctioned bout, although we can’t be sure what Pacquiao meant.

Garcia is an attractive opponent because of his massive social media following; the fight would be huge. They would probably fight at a catch weight below the 147-pound limit.

For what it’s worth, Garcia’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, tweeted that he’d prefer his fighter face fellow lightweight Gervonta Davis rather than Pacquiao.

The 43-year-old Filipino icon had been negotiating to meet MMA star Conor McGregor. However, that possibility is less likely after McGregor was knocked out in an MMA fight.

Pacquiao had been in talks early last year to face Mikey Garcia, who, like Pacquiao, is a small welterweight, but that fight gave way to the coronavirus pandemic.

And, of course, there are many other top names in and around his division who would love a shot at Pacquiao because of the money and exposure involved.

Pacquiao last fought in July 2019, when he outpointed Keith Thurman to win the WBA welterweight title. The sanctioning body last week stripped him of his belt and elevated him to “champion in recess” because of his inactivity.

Stay tuned.

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Manny Pacquiao has begun training, tweets: ‘Big news coming soon’

Manny Pacquiao tweeted that he has begun training and that “big news coming soon.”

Well, Manny Pacquiao evidently is set to the return to the ring.

The future Hall of Famer tweeted Tuesday: “Training camp has begun. I’m ready to get back in the ring and to further add to my legacy in the sport of boxing. Big news coming soon.”

So what does that mean? We can only speculate.

If he’s starting camp now, that probably means he’ll fight in April or thereabouts. That’s based on common sense, which doesn’t always prevail in boxing.

Who might he face?

We know that representatives for Pacquiao and lightweight contender Ryan Garcia have been in talks for a sanctioned fight or an exhibition. Garcia seems to be the most likely choice.

Pacquiao said he wants to “add to my legacy.” Could an exhibition add to his legacy? Probably not. Maybe that means we can expect a sanctioned bout, although we can’t be sure what Pacquiao meant.

Garcia is an attractive opponent because of his massive social media following; the fight would be huge. They would probably fight at a catch weight below the 147-pound limit.

For what it’s worth, Garcia’s trainer, Eddy Reynoso, tweeted that he’d prefer his fighter face fellow lightweight Gervonta Davis rather than Pacquiao.

The 43-year-old Filipino icon had been negotiating to meet MMA star Conor McGregor. However, that possibility is less likely after McGregor was knocked out in an MMA fight.

Pacquiao had been in talks early last year to face Mikey Garcia, who, like Pacquiao, is a small welterweight, but that fight gave way to the coronavirus pandemic.

And, of course, there are many other top names in and around his division who would love a shot at Pacquiao because of the money and exposure involved.

Pacquiao last fought in July 2019, when he outpointed Keith Thurman to win the WBA welterweight title. The sanctioning body last week stripped him of his belt and elevated him to “champion in recess” because of his inactivity.

Stay tuned.

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Manny Pacquiao vs. Ryan Garcia remains on track: reports

Manny Pacquiao and Ryan Garcia seem to be on track for a welterweight showdown, although one report raises doubt.

Manny Pacquiao and Ryan Garcia seem to be inching closer to a welterweight showdown, although one report raises doubt.

Yahoo Sports reported Saturday that the fighters have reached an agreement but organizers are still working out the financing, which shouldn’t be a problem given the magnitude of the event. The outlet cited a “source close to the fighters.”

Garcia made it clear on his Instagram Live channel that the bout would be sanctioned, not an exhibition, which was raised as a possibility. It would take place between 140 and 147 pounds.

“Hey everybody, just want to make it real clear — my fight with Manny Pacquiao will not be an exhibition. It will be a real fight. Shooting for 12 rounds,” Garcia said.

Also, Garcia advisor Guadalupe Valencia told The Athletic: “We’re discussing terms. Manny and Ryan want it and instructed their teams to make it happen. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Meanwhile, a representative of Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Garcia, told ESPN Saturday that the proposed matchup “isn’t going to happen” and suggested Garcia could face undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez instead.

“There’s nothing to talk about there,” Golden Boy President Eric Gomez told ESPN. “They contacted us, but it turns out there’s nothing to talk about. That fight isn’t going to happen.”

Gomez went so far as to say that executives from Golden Boy and Top Rank, Lopez’s promoter, are in talks for a lightweight bout.

“Teofimo is more feasible,” Gomez said. “It’s one of the fights that’s obviously of interest to Ryan Garcia. It could be a great fight.”

However, Sean Gibbons, President of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, seemed to give his endorsement by retweeting a Yahoo Sports tweet indicating the fight is on.

Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) is coming off a sensational body-punch knockout of Luke Campbell on Jan. 2. Pacquiao last fought in July of 2019, when he outpointed Keith Thurman to win a welterweight title. He has been designated “champion in recess” because of his inactivity.

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Manny Pacquiao vs. Ryan Garcia remains on track: reports

Manny Pacquiao and Ryan Garcia seem to be on track for a welterweight showdown, although one report raises doubt.

Manny Pacquiao and Ryan Garcia seem to be inching closer to a welterweight showdown, although one report raises doubt.

Yahoo Sports reported Saturday that the fighters have reached an agreement but organizers are still working out the financing, which shouldn’t be a problem given the magnitude of the event. The outlet cited a “source close to the fighters.”

Garcia made it clear on his Instagram Live channel that the bout would be sanctioned, not an exhibition, which was raised as a possibility. It would take place between 140 and 147 pounds.

“Hey everybody, just want to make it real clear — my fight with Manny Pacquiao will not be an exhibition. It will be a real fight. Shooting for 12 rounds,” Garcia said.

Also, Garcia advisor Guadalupe Valencia told The Athletic: “We’re discussing terms. Manny and Ryan want it and instructed their teams to make it happen. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”

Meanwhile, a representative of Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Garcia, told ESPN Saturday that the proposed matchup “isn’t going to happen” and suggested Garcia could face undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez instead.

“There’s nothing to talk about there,” Golden Boy President Eric Gomez told ESPN. “They contacted us, but it turns out there’s nothing to talk about. That fight isn’t going to happen.”

Gomez went so far as to say that executives from Golden Boy and Top Rank, Lopez’s promoter, are in talks for a lightweight bout.

“Teofimo is more feasible,” Gomez said. “It’s one of the fights that’s obviously of interest to Ryan Garcia. It could be a great fight.”

However, Sean Gibbons, President of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, seemed to give his endorsement by retweeting a Yahoo Sports tweet indicating the fight is on.

Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) is coming off a sensational body-punch knockout of Luke Campbell on Jan. 2. Pacquiao last fought in July of 2019, when he outpointed Keith Thurman to win a welterweight title. He has been designated “champion in recess” because of his inactivity.

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Ryan Garcia’s father hints Manny Pacquiao bout will be exhibition

Ryan Garcia’s father hinted in an interview that his son’s prospective fight with Manny Pacquiao will be an exhibition.

Ryan Garcia’s father, Henry Garcia, seemed to imply that his son and Manny Pacquiao are likely to take part in an exhibition, not a sanctioned bout.

The camps reportedly are in serious talks for some sort of fight, possibly this spring.

The elder Garcia was speaking with MyBettingSites.co.uk about the possibility of going the exhibition route when he said, “That’s the direction we’re heading down because no one wants to lose status, but they do both want to fight each other, and that’s the key.

“It’s not bizarre. It’s just two people who want to fight each other. Ryan’s fighting a legend, and Pacquiao’s fighting a rising star, so it’s not awkward at all. What I do know is both fighters want to fight each other, and it’s going to be for real, it’s going to be a real fight.

“Ryan always admired Pacquiao and always wanted to fight a legend before his time was up. He wanted to fight someone of Pacquiao’s caliber, so there’s a chance it could happen.”

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Henry Garcia likes his son’s chances against Pacquiao in whatever form the fight might take place.

Pacquiao, 42, won a 147-pound title when he outpointed Keith Thurman in July 2019. Garcia, 22, is a 135-pound contender. Henry Garcia said he wants a 143-pound catchweight.

“I believe Ryan is ready for Manny Pacquiao because when Ryan puts his mind to something he’s not going to back down, he’s got all of the confidence in the world,” Henry Garcia said. “When you have that confidence and motivation and drive, you can focus on what’s in front of you and you’re most likely going to become victorious.

“Ryan likes to take control and we understood that when Thurman put pressure on Manny, he had a hard time fighting backwards. When you reach a certain age you’re no longer as strong as a 20-year-old. We stand a very good chance.

“He’s 20 years younger than Pacquiao and we feel that’s to our advantage and that’s one of the reasons why I feel it’s a changing of the guard fight. It’s our time.”

He went on: “I’d love that fight to happen in April or May. This one is possibly going to be in Texas, we’re not sure yet. We don’t know exact details yet [on whether the fight will be an exhibition], but we’re looking at a good 10-rounder.”

Ryan Garcia’s father hints Manny Pacquiao bout will be exhibition

Ryan Garcia’s father hinted in an interview that his son’s prospective fight with Manny Pacquiao will be an exhibition.

Ryan Garcia’s father, Henry Garcia, seemed to imply that his son and Manny Pacquiao are likely to take part in an exhibition, not a sanctioned bout.

The camps reportedly are in serious talks for some sort of fight, possibly this spring.

The elder Garcia was speaking with MyBettingSites.co.uk about the possibility of going the exhibition route when he said, “That’s the direction we’re heading down because no one wants to lose status, but they do both want to fight each other, and that’s the key.

“It’s not bizarre. It’s just two people who want to fight each other. Ryan’s fighting a legend, and Pacquiao’s fighting a rising star, so it’s not awkward at all. What I do know is both fighters want to fight each other, and it’s going to be for real, it’s going to be a real fight.

“Ryan always admired Pacquiao and always wanted to fight a legend before his time was up. He wanted to fight someone of Pacquiao’s caliber, so there’s a chance it could happen.”

[lawrence-related id=17331,17317,17153,16967]

Henry Garcia likes his son’s chances against Pacquiao in whatever form the fight might take place.

Pacquiao, 42, won a 147-pound title when he outpointed Keith Thurman in July 2019. Garcia, 22, is a 135-pound contender. Henry Garcia said he wants a 143-pound catchweight.

“I believe Ryan is ready for Manny Pacquiao because when Ryan puts his mind to something he’s not going to back down, he’s got all of the confidence in the world,” Henry Garcia said. “When you have that confidence and motivation and drive, you can focus on what’s in front of you and you’re most likely going to become victorious.

“Ryan likes to take control and we understood that when Thurman put pressure on Manny, he had a hard time fighting backwards. When you reach a certain age you’re no longer as strong as a 20-year-old. We stand a very good chance.

“He’s 20 years younger than Pacquiao and we feel that’s to our advantage and that’s one of the reasons why I feel it’s a changing of the guard fight. It’s our time.”

He went on: “I’d love that fight to happen in April or May. This one is possibly going to be in Texas, we’re not sure yet. We don’t know exact details yet [on whether the fight will be an exhibition], but we’re looking at a good 10-rounder.”

5 prospective matchups for Manny Pacquiao (in order of appeal)

5 prospective matchups for Manny Pacquiao (in order of appeal).

Manny Pacquiao, at 42, has only a few more fights remaining in his career. Thus, people pay attention whenever he’s linked to a potential opponent.

The latest name is Ryan Garcia, with whom Pacquiao reportedly is in negotiations for either a fight or an exhibition. Garcia seemed to say on Instagram that a deal has been reached but, according to reports, that’s not the case.

Is Ryan Garcia the best opponent for Pacquiao among those that have been mentioned since Pacquiao outpointed Keith Thurman to win a major 147-pound title in July 2019?

Or are there others – in boxing or mixed martial arts – who would be better fits for Pacquiao at this stage of the game?

Here are five matchups that have been discussed for the future Hall of Famer, in order of appeal.

No. 1 Terence Crawford or Errol Spence Jr.

The goal of every major beltholder should be to unify titles, which gives fans the closest thing to a genuine champion in a dysfunctional system. Crawford and Spence own the three remaining titles. I would fear for Pacquiao if he were to face either one of them but, if he wants to challenge himself and add to his legacy, this is the direction he should go.

No. 2 Mikey Garcia

Garcia isn’t the threat that Crawford and Spence are. And he doesn’t have the fan base of Ryan Garcia, meaning a Pacquiao-Mike Garcia wouldn’t generate the interest Pacquiao-Ryan Garcia would. However, it might be the best possible matchup from a competitive perspective. Mikey Garcia is a legitimate opponent who, like Pacquiao, is a small welterweight.

No. 3 Ryan Garcia (sanctioned bout)

I was surprised to see some people dismiss King Ryan’s chances against Pacquiao. Pacman is bigger and more experienced than Garcia but he’s 42 and will have been out of the ring for more than a year and a half if they meet. It’s a competitive fight, at least on paper. Plus, the popularity of both fighters would make the promotion an entertaining ride.

No. 4 Conor McGregor

The Pacquiao-McGregor fight is the least competitive of all possibilities. In other words, McGregor would stand no chance. This matchup would be a financial reward for Pacquiao for everything he has given the sport. He deserves it if he wants it. And the fact that McGregor lost to Dustin Poirier should have no bearing on whether the fight should be made. It would still be lucrative.

No. 5 Ryan Garcia (exhibition)

If Pacquiao and Garcia take part in an exhibition to benefit charity, God bless them. They’re good people. That said, I have no interest whatsoever in seeing it. Why would I? Sparring can be interesting  to watch sometimes but there are enough real televised and streamed fights to keep me satiated. If Pacquiao and Garcia want to help those less fortunate, then they could donate a portion of their purses. Please, no exhibition.

Also

Of course, there are more legitimate prospective opponents for Pacquiao. They include: Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia, Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez. The problem is that none of them are as interesting at those listed above.

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5 prospective matchups for Manny Pacquiao (in order of appeal)

5 prospective matchups for Manny Pacquiao (in order of appeal).

Manny Pacquiao, at 42, has only a few more fights remaining in his career. Thus, people pay attention whenever he’s linked to a potential opponent.

The latest name is Ryan Garcia, with whom Pacquiao reportedly is in negotiations for either a fight or an exhibition. Garcia seemed to say on Instagram that a deal has been reached but, according to reports, that’s not the case.

Is Ryan Garcia the best opponent for Pacquiao among those that have been mentioned since Pacquiao outpointed Keith Thurman to win a major 147-pound title in July 2019?

Or are there others – in boxing or mixed martial arts – who would be better fits for Pacquiao at this stage of the game?

Here are five matchups that have been discussed for the future Hall of Famer, in order of appeal.

No. 1 Terence Crawford or Errol Spence Jr.

The goal of every major beltholder should be to unify titles, which gives fans the closest thing to a genuine champion in a dysfunctional system. Crawford and Spence own the three remaining titles. I would fear for Pacquiao if he were to face either one of them but, if he wants to challenge himself and add to his legacy, this is the direction he should go.

No. 2 Mikey Garcia

Garcia isn’t the threat that Crawford and Spence are. And he doesn’t have the fan base of Ryan Garcia, meaning a Pacquiao-Mike Garcia wouldn’t generate the interest Pacquiao-Ryan Garcia would. However, it might be the best possible matchup from a competitive perspective. Mikey Garcia is a legitimate opponent who, like Pacquiao, is a small welterweight.

No. 3 Ryan Garcia (sanctioned bout)

I was surprised to see some people dismiss King Ryan’s chances against Pacquiao. Pacman is bigger and more experienced than Garcia but he’s 42 and will have been out of the ring for more than a year and a half if they meet. It’s a competitive fight, at least on paper. Plus, the popularity of both fighters would make the promotion an entertaining ride.

No. 4 Conor McGregor

The Pacquiao-McGregor fight is the least competitive of all possibilities. In other words, McGregor would stand no chance. This matchup would be a financial reward for Pacquiao for everything he has given the sport. He deserves it if he wants it. And the fact that McGregor lost to Dustin Poirier should have no bearing on whether the fight should be made. It would still be lucrative.

No. 5 Ryan Garcia (exhibition)

If Pacquiao and Garcia take part in an exhibition to benefit charity, God bless them. They’re good people. That said, I have no interest whatsoever in seeing it. Why would I? Sparring can be interesting  to watch sometimes but there are enough real televised and streamed fights to keep me satiated. If Pacquiao and Garcia want to help those less fortunate, then they could donate a portion of their purses. Please, no exhibition.

Also

Of course, there are more legitimate prospective opponents for Pacquiao. They include: Shawn Porter, Danny Garcia, Josh Taylor and Jose Ramirez. The problem is that none of them are as interesting at those listed above.

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Manny Pacquiao vs. Ryan Garcia? Intriguing matchup gaining traction

An intriguing potential matchup between Manny Pacquiao and Ryan Garcia is gaining momentum,

Ryan Garcia evidently believes he’s going to fight Manny Pacquiao.

The lightweight contender, a rising star, seems to say on Instagram that a deal to face the 42-year-old Filipino icon is in place. However, no official word – from Pacquiao or anyone else – has emerged.

The Athletic has reported that representatives of Garcia and Pacquiao are in “preliminary discussions.”

Garcia wrote on IG: “A dream turned reality. It’s an honor 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.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKckF3JhFPY/?utm_source=ig_embed

The concept of a Pacquiao-Garcia fight is a bit of a head-scratcher because they fight in different weight classes.

Garcia competes at 135 pounds. Pacquiao has fought at 147 for more than a decade, although he’s a small welterweight. They could agree to a catchweight.

The fight makes sense from a business standpoint. Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) has a massive social media following, which means he could probably generate a lot of pay-per-view buys. And he’s coming off his biggest victory, a seventh-round knockout of former Olympic champion Luke Campbell on Jan. 2.

Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) last fought in July 2019, when he upset Keith Thurman by decision to win a major welterweight title. Since then, he has been focused on his work as a senator in the Philippines.

The eight-division titleholder has teased a possible fight with MMA star Conor McGregor, who was stopped by Dustin Poirier in UFC 257 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Garcia has been pushing for a fight with Gervonta Davis. He presumably would set that matchup aside for a crack at Pacquiao because of the money at stake.

[lawrence-related id=17153,17137,17105,17057,17127,16940,16907]

Manny Pacquiao vs. Ryan Garcia? Intriguing matchup gaining traction

An intriguing potential matchup between Manny Pacquiao and Ryan Garcia is gaining momentum,

Ryan Garcia evidently believes he’s going to fight Manny Pacquiao.

The lightweight contender, a rising star, seems to say on Instagram that a deal to face the 42-year-old Filipino icon is in place. However, no official word – from Pacquiao or anyone else – has emerged.

The Athletic has reported that representatives of Garcia and Pacquiao are in “preliminary discussions.”

Garcia wrote on IG: “A dream turned reality. It’s an honor 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.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKckF3JhFPY/?utm_source=ig_embed

The concept of a Pacquiao-Garcia fight is a bit of a head-scratcher because they fight in different weight classes.

Garcia competes at 135 pounds. Pacquiao has fought at 147 for more than a decade, although he’s a small welterweight. They could agree to a catchweight.

The fight makes sense from a business standpoint. Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) has a massive social media following, which means he could probably generate a lot of pay-per-view buys. And he’s coming off his biggest victory, a seventh-round knockout of former Olympic champion Luke Campbell on Jan. 2.

Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) last fought in July 2019, when he upset Keith Thurman by decision to win a major welterweight title. Since then, he has been focused on his work as a senator in the Philippines.

The eight-division titleholder has teased a possible fight with MMA star Conor McGregor, who was stopped by Dustin Poirier in UFC 257 on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Garcia has been pushing for a fight with Gervonta Davis. He presumably would set that matchup aside for a crack at Pacquiao because of the money at stake.

[lawrence-related id=17153,17137,17105,17057,17127,16940,16907]