Esteemed journalist Colin Hart has condemned rumours that Conor Benn could fight Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao later this year.
Pacquiao has been frequently mentioned by promoter Eddie Hearn as a potential comeback opponent for Benn as he looks to resume his career after a tumultuous 2022.
Hart, however, was not shy in voicing his disproval of the fight when pressed on the matter by Pro Boxing Fans, and questioned why ‘Pac-man’ would want to get back in a boxing ring at the age of 43
“I’ve heard this business about Benn and Pacquiao, and I sincerely hope it doesn’t happen.”
“It would be tragic for Pacquiao to fight Benn. He’s in his forties – why is he doing it? He’s made a fortune, he’s gave away a lot of it and, by the sounds of it, he may well have given away all of it!”
“There’s only one reason why Pacquiao would want to fight again, and that’s because he badly needs the money. If he does, that’s a great shame, because he should not be anywhere near boxing at this stage in his life.”
‘The Destroyer’s fight against Chris Eubank Jr in October 2022 was pulled at the last hour after news broke that he had returned a VADA positive test for the banned substance, Clomiphene.
This was compounded when it emerged weeks later that he had failed another test earlier in the summer for the same substance.
Benn currently does not hold a license with the British Boxing Board of Control, meaning as things stand, his return to action is most likely to take place on one of Matchroom’s international cards.
As well as Pacquiao, the likes of Kell Brook and Adrien Broner have also been mentioned as potential opponents, with the Eubank Jr fight seemingly now off the table as he looks set to rematch Liam Smith.