Ryan Garcia 21-0 (18) has praised Manny Pacquiao 62-7-2 (39) as rumours circulate that the rising lightweight star could face the eight-division world champion later this year.
Garcia sees himself as the natural successor to 42-year-old Filipino superstar Pacquiao, who was last in action 18 months ago when he delivered Keith Thurman his first loss in Las Vegas.
“I’m trying to be a good example as a champion to this younger generation,” the 22-year-old from Los Angeles told talkSPORT.
“I think that’s been missing a long time, other than Manny Pacquiao as a great example.
“Once you get to the top, people like to forget how they got there and they don’t share their stories and they don’t give glory to God.
“I will stay true to myself and try to be the best example I can be for the younger generation.”
Following his breakthrough win over two-time world title challenger Luke Campbell earlier this month, Garcia called out fellow unbeaten Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis 24-0 (23).
But that fight seems unlikely to happen next, with Garcia recently hinting he has another big fight in the pipeline.
“I have a potential, huge, bigger fight than him [Davis], so I might pin him off to the side,” Garcia said in an interview with Jalen and Jacoby.
“You know, I’m still going to fight him. But I wouldn’t not fight him unless it was an even bigger opportunity.
“But I can’t say anything right now, so I’m just going to keep it at that.”
Garcia was noncommittal when asked about facing Pacquiao.
“I don’t know, I don’t know guys! It’s up for imagination,” he said.
“Let’s all use our imagination here, Manny is a legend. Manny is a person that I have always looked up to, what can you say?
“You can’t say anything bad about Manny, I wouldn’t even be mad in the ring with him!
“Even if he hit, I wouldn’t know how I would react, I would just be like, ‘Yo you hit me man I can’t believe this. Yes, hit me more!’
“No but it’s cool man, he’s just been an inspiration to me and I’m just happy.”
