It seems Ryan Garcia’s dreams of a money-spinning confrontation against Manny Pacquaio will remain just that.
According to Golden Boy Promotions President Eric Gomez, Garcia-Pacquiao is apparently dead in the water less than week after the hype started.
“There’s nothing to talk about there,” Gomez told ESPN. “They contacted us, but it turns out there’s nothing to talk about. That fight isn’t going to happen.”
The Golden Boy camp feel a bout between WBC ‘Interim’ lightweight champion Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) and undisputed 135lbs king Teofimo Lopez (16-0, 12 KOs) is far more practical, with talks having already taken place with Lopez’s promoters Top Rank late last week.
“Teofimo is more feasible,” said Gomez . “It’s one of the fights that’s obviously of interest to Ryan Garcia. It could be a great fight.”
But a glimmer of hope remains for Garcia-Pacquiao. Garcia’s representative Guadalupe Valencia also told The Athletic that the fight is not completely off the table just yet.
“We’re discussing terms,” said Valencia. “Manny and Ryan want it and instructed their teams to make it happen. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Garcia impressed with a seventh-round KO of Luke Campbell on January 2 whilst Pacquiao (62-7-3, 39 KOs) hasn’t fought since split decisioning Keith Thurman in July 2019. On Friday, the WBA stripped the great Filipino of his ‘Super’ 147lbs title and promoted ‘Regular’ champion Yordenis Ugas due to inactivity.