Manny Pacquiao officially OUT OF RETIREMENT and ready to face Conor McGregor in blockbuster Saudi showdown

10 months ago 50

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.

Manny Pacquiao retired from boxing a month after losing to Yordenis UgasGETTY
Manny Pacquiao (R) of the Philippines fights against DK Yoo of South Korea during their exhibition boxing match in Goyang, northwest of Seoul, on December 11, 2022. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP) (Photo by JUNG YEON-JE/AFP via Getty Images)Pacman returned to the ring in December 2022 for an exhibition against DK YooGETTY
(FILES) This file photo taken on November 14, 2009 shows Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines celebrating after defeating Miguel Angel Cotto of Puerto Rico in their WBO Welterweight Championship fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. - Philippine boxing legend and 2022 presidential hopeful Manny Pacquiao said on September 29, 2021 that he is hanging up his gloves after a glittering decades-long career in the ring. (Photo by MARK RALSTON / AFP) (Photo by MARK RALSTON/AFP via Getty Images)The former eight-weight champ is out of retirement, according to his managerGETTY

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.

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.

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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.

GETTY
Manny Pacquiao is open to fighting UFC superstar Conor McGregor this year[/caption]
UFC
Conor McGregor is set to face Michael Chandler in his UFC this year[/caption]
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