Welterweight contender Conor Benn has opened up on the potential showdown with Manny Pacquiao after they teased their fight announcement could come very soon.
Benn has been linked to a plethora of opponents since making his comeback to the sport in September, with the likes of Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney and Chris Eubank Jr all being touted to take on ‘The Destroyer’.
However, it appears that the Brit is on the verge of landing an even bigger name, when during the Anthony Joshua vs. Francis Ngannou fight week, reports suggested that talks are ongoing afor a clash between Benn and pound-for-pound legend Pacquiao.
The ‘Pac-Man’ retired from the sport in 2021 and was recently denied the opportunity to fight in the Olympics, after his special request to fight at Paris 2024 was denied by the IOC.
It means the Filipino now appears keen to return to the professional ranks instead and Benn confirmed his obvious interest in the potential scrap in an interview with Boxing Social.
“There is nothing to say at the present moment, but we are all out here, the teams are out here, the managers, coaches, trainers. We are all out here to get that [fight] done, so that’s it, that’s why I am here.
That’s the plan [to get it signed], we want mega fights, the public want mega fights. It’s a fight that the public wants so I’ll give it to them.
“The only man that seems to be taking the fight [with me] is Pacquiao. Now, I’m not sure if that is because of my last two performances, at the heavier weight, not knocking them out, but it looks like it has done me a favour if he takes the fight.
“It’s surreal, I used to watch him so for me it really is idols to rivals. I looked him in the eyes and I was like ‘f**k me, that is Manny Pacquiao.’
“There is nothing that I can do or say, he is a GOAT.”
The fight is rumoured to take place in Saudi Arabia in May or June, with Pacquiao expecting to finalize a deal this weekend.