The potential fight between Conor Benn and Manny Pacquiao has been given a big update in light of the appeal made to the British Boxing Board of Control over Benn’s status.
Word has been that multi-weight and once pound-for pound boxing legend Pacquiao is eager to step back into the boxing ring, though as of yet he has been unable to secure an opponent.
He floated talks of potentially fighting in the Paris Olympics this summer but that fell through when the rules could not be changed to accommodate someone of his age, and he has also spoken of a fight with Conor McGregor, though that looks unlikely.
Pacquiao hasn’t competed professionally since his loss to Yordenis Ugas in 2021, which was thought to be his farewell bout. In recent months, there has been growing speculation about the Filipino icon staging a comeback, with a potential matchup against British fighter Benn one that has often come up.
The pair even had a face-off in Saudi Arabia following the Anthony Joshua-Francis Ngannou weigh-in back in March. Sean Gibbons is an advisor to the PacMan’ and he has suggested to Boxing Scene via ProBox TV that a bout with McGregor now seems a long way off.
“It was always really a great dream for him and Conor McGregor, but Conor’s got so much UFC business or whatever. Manny’s got about nine months left because he’s going to run for office again, so he’s still actively looking for something.”
Earlier in the year, Benn was hoping the National Anti-Doping Panel would allow him to fight once more but that decision was appealed by both UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control, and upheld. As such, Been has not yet fought back in the UK and has had just two bouts in that time out in Florida and Las Vegas, and it ended hopes of the Pacquiao fight, too.
Gibbons explained that the fight with Pacquiao also fell through when the appeal was lost, but that it could still happen later in the year.
“You know, that fight was more or less in place to happen and, unfortunately, he lost the appeal. We got bad luck. You saw the hype, the build-up, everybody was excited, all sides wanted to do it, but unfortunately losing the appeal cost the fight.
“They said he comes off suspension in September, there’s still an opportunity to do that. I always thought Kell Brook would have been fun… Exhibitions… Conor Benn was the ideal fight because it would have been competitive.”
It seems there is now a narrowing timeframe for this fight to happen.
Boxing Social is now on WhatsApp! Join our channel by clicking here and getting all the latest boxing news direct to your phone.