News spread recently, via press release, that one of boxing’s future hall of famers, Manny Pacquiao, had recently signed an exclusive deal with boxing businessman and adviser to the stars, Al Haymon. Haymon, of course, oversees the fighters under the Premier Boxing Champions banner, and he has one of the deepest stables in all of boxing.
Pacquiao, at 39 years of age, isn’t looking to retire anytime soon and seems to be rejuvenated upon the deal officially being announced.
“I’m very excited about this new chapter in my career and I’m looking forward to a fresh start,” Pacquiao said in the statement. “I’m reinvigorated by the prospects of bringing up new fighters under the MP Promotions banner. My team will work closely with Al Haymon for the remainder of my career to deliver the most anticipated fights with the top PBC fighters. Those are the fights the fans want to see and the ones I want to have to close out my career”
Carrying a sterling record (60-7-2, 39 KO’s) that includes titles in eight weight divisions, Pacquiao is one of the most decorated fighters in the sport. It’s no secret that he has been itching for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, who is also advised under Al Haymon. Mayweather defeated Pacquiao via unanimous decision in May of 2015 in a fight that was long overdue.
Pacquiao is looking pretty sharp these days actually, as he blitzed through Argentina’s Lucas Matthysse (39-5, 36 KOs, 1 NC) in the seventh round of his last fight in July in Malaysia to win one of the WBA welterweight titles that is floating around.
But how would Manny do against the best fighters in the PBC stable? A few days ago Pacquiao posted a photo to his Instagram of himself foreshadowing some of the best from Premier Boxing Champions, including Adrien Broner, Shawn Porter, Errol Spence Jr., Mikey Garcia, and of course Mayweather.
It’s widely known that Pacquiao is already looking towards a possible January 19 date vs. Broner, the charismatic champion from Cincinnati who has captured four titles in four divisions. Broner’s last fight was a draw in April vs. Jessie Vargas and many speculate that he would be used as a stepping stone vs. Pacquiao.
One intriguing fight would be against Porter, simply because the two men know each other very well through their days sparring one another inside of the Wild Card Boxing Club years back. Those sessions surely were intense and each man knows the other’s flaws and weaknesses. Porter is riding a high since becoming a champion again in September, defeating Danny Garcia for the WBC welterweight title.
Spence is another interesting name, as the IBF welterweight champion has been looking forward to a fight with any of the big names for some time now. Don’t be surprised if we see Pacquiao vs. Spence in an all-action unification shootout in Texas sometime next summer. But you have to figure that Errol’s size and power would make him very dangerous vs. The elder Manny.
Mikey Garcia is also a great name and perhaps the best matchup for Pacquiao of the bunch, given that he isn’t too huge size-wise. Garcia holds the IBF and WBC lightweight titles but could meet Pacquiao at 140 pounds or even a catch weight. Garcia is one to profess his love of challenges and him and Manny would make for a great fight.
It may actually be Mayweather who is the hardest of the bunch for Pacquiao to get, as Floyd seems more interesting in facing off with UFC superstar Khabib Nurmagomedov more than anyone else in boxing.
Let’s wait and see how the wheels turn for Pacquiao.
