A rematch with rival Floyd Mayweather, an exhibition bout with a muay legend, possible stint in the Paris Olympics, and now a planned return to the ring against some of the brightest stars in the light welterweight division.
It seems Manny Pacquiao has his hands full for 2024 given the activities lined up for him even at his advance age of 45.
The latest of them is his desire to face any among the three boxing stars in Devin Haney, Gervonta Davis, and Ryan Garcia in his supposed comeback in the ring.
Pacquiao eyes return
Sean Gibbons, the head of MP Promotions, disclosed that discussions about Manny Pacquiao's intention to end his retirement and return to the boxing ring were part of their conversations during the Yuletide holiday they shared in Tokyo, Japan.
“Pacquiao looks forward to a return to the ring in 2024. Would love to fight Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia, and Devin Haney,” said Gibbons, who stayed in Japan after the Marlon Tapales-Naoya Inoue undisputed super-bantamweight fight to meet up with Pacquiao, who arrived in the Japanese capital on Dec. 29 with his family for the New Year celebration.
The boxing executive mentioned Saudi Arabia as the likely site of the Pacquiao fight, considering the wealthy Middle East country had staged several world boxing championships in the past and will have another one set on Feb. 17 pitting Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk in a heavyweight unification clash.
“They want Manny,” said Gibbons, noting the presence of a huge number of Filipinos who are currently working and based in the oil-rich kingdom. “This is a way for them to watch him live, an opportunity for those who didn’t get to see him fight in the United States.”
Pacquiao officially retired from boxing in 2021 following a unanimous decision loss to Yordeni Ugas for the WBA super-welterweight title.
The comeback fight is just one in the long bucket list the eight-time world division champion is planning for the year.
Pacman to fight muay fighter
He’s already penciled for an April 20 exhibition match against legendary muay fighter Buakaw Banchamek in Bangkok, Thailand.
Just before 2023 ended, Pacquiao attended an event by RIZIN in Japan and then announced inside the ring that he will be appearing in a big fight in Tokyo opposite the 44-year-old Mayweather.
Of course, there’s also his desire to represent the country in this year’s Paris Games, with the Philippine Olympic Committee endorsing his case before the International Olympic Committee.
The IOC decision whether to allow Pacquiao to box or not in the Olympics will be known by March.
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