A title fight, a regular bout, or even an exhibition suit fine for boxing legend Manny Pacquiao.
After Pacquiao's grudge match against Floyd Mayweather was shelved, the camp of the Filipino ring icon is open to all possibilities, including a return to the ring before the year comes to an end.
READ Pacquiao not giving up on Mayweather rematch after postponement
MP Promotions CEO Jas Mathur announced on Monday that the 47-year-old Pacquiao will fight in the fourth quarter of the year before moving on to 2027 for what he said would be the ‘big fight.’
“We’re focused more on what’s in front of us now,” he said in a mini-presser at the Wilcon IT Hub in Makati City. “Everything is on the table. It’s all on the table.”
“We’re working on a few different fights right now for him. Presently, there’s likely to be going to be an exhibition that we’re trying to put together in the fourth quarter of this year.”
Mathur was joined by Marc Bundalian, the president and CEO of Manny Pay, as they likewise talked about the burgeoning business empire of the Pacman that includes boxing promotions and digital wallet, among others.
But it’s the boxing side that was discussed at length especially after Pacquiao’s highly-anticipated rematch with Mayweather was shelved, supposedly for January of next year.
While an exhibition fight is likely next for the only eight-time world division champion, Mathur is also not ruling out the possibility of either a regular or a championship fight.
He added there were plans shortly after the Mayweather fight went up in smoke to have Pacquiao face WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero or WBC counterpart Ryan Garcia.
Unfortunately, both fighters are penciled to defend their respective titles in the months to come.
Romero will be facing Teofimo Lopez on August 22, while Garcia stakes his crown against Conor Benn on Sept. 12.
Mathur disclosed he’s actually a close friend of Romero.
“He’s a good buddy of mine. I actually want to put the Rolly fight together, that was my plan from the beginning,” he said. “I was even talking about it last year because I’m already with Manny, and Rolly is also with me, my company which is Limitless. Rolly is also a dear good friend. So that’s a very direct situation.
“Possibility, yes. We also brought that up,” Mathur added about facing Garcia.
“Ryan will fight Manny. Manny will fight Ryan. Rolly will fight Manny. Manny will fight Rolly. All of these people are on the table. It’s not an issue.”
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