At 43 years old, Manny Pacquiao is open to another few professional contest – but the Filipino fighter would only want to face the best.
Ahead of his first exhibition bout against Korean YouTuber, DK Yoo, the former eight division world champion apparently hasn’t called curtains on his career just yet.
The future hall of famer, who has 62 wins from 72 fights and became the oldest ever welterweight champion at the age of 40, believes he can still provide a good test to the top men.
Despite having hung up the gloves after a 2021 loss to Yordenis Ugas and his concentration moving on to his political career, ‘Pac Man’ told FightHype.com that he would be open to facing the two current welterweight belt holders, Terence Crawford and Errol Spence Jr.
“Of course, I can fight Terence Crawford or [Errol] Spence.”
“I [would] make [a] fight with them to test them. If they are really champions. Because I’ve been fighting with a lot of boxers in 147, 140, 135. I’ve been fighting with the greatest boxers in the world, so I want to test them.”
Whilst the appreciation for Pacquiao’s elite skills will never fade, fans would much rather see Spence and Crawford fighting each other. Optimists remain hopeful for a 2023 bout, but since negotiations crumbled again this year, many feel that the fight being made will continue to be a struggle.
Crawford now faces David Avanesyan, whilst Spence has been ordered to face Keith Thurman on his next outing.
Pacquiao also mentioned a rematch with Floyd Mayweather as an option for a pro ring return, although he believes his former foe doesn’t fancy it despite coming out on top in 2015.
Their fight, despite its financial success, came too late in ‘Pac Man’s career – hopefully not a foreshadowing of the Spence – Crawford affair.