The only eight-division world champion in the history of the sport, Manny Pacquiao, wants one more fight.
‘PacMan’ has wowed boxing fans over the span of a 28-year, 72-fight career, and is widely accepted as one of the greatest to ever lace up.
Having won his first world title in the 112lbs flyweight ranks, the Filipino fighter battled all the way up to the welterweight division and was last out in a defeat to Yordenis Ugas in August of 2021.
Freddie Roach, of the Wild Card Gym and trainer to Pacquiao for over two decades, spoke to Boxing Social and revealed that his fighter had told him recently he has one more contest in him.
“I talked to Manny on the phone. He wants to fight one more time. He does.”
Asked if it would be exhibition, Roach said no.
“Oh no, no. He wants a real fight.
I haven’t let him choose anyone yet, but he wants one more fight. His wife called me up and said ‘don’t let him fight’ and then I try to be on her side and so forth, but when a man in the sport wants to fight, he’s gonna fight.”
“You know who? It doesn’t matter. Because you know what? If I’m his trainer in that fight I will make sure he’s going to be in a great fight.”
Pacquiao hasn’t officially retired, and has been open about the idea that he would like to test out the current welterweight crop to prove who the ‘real champions’ are.
For a while, he was rumoured to be the return opponent for Conor Benn, should the Brit prove his innocence in an ongoing doping case.
He does have an exhibition currently scheduled for 2024, so it’s unclear how his plans – should they materialise – will fit in with that.