Manny Pacquiao has thrown some names into the hat for a possible return to the boxing ring after his comeback fight vs Mario Barrios. Floyd Mayweather Jr. for one. Vasyl Lomachenko is another. Even Conor McGregor is a possibility.
Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr... one more time?
Ten years after their match in Las Vegas, Floyd Mayweather Jr. has been floated as the top candidate for Manny Pacquiao's next trip to the boxing ring.
The rumored rematch, which could take place next year as a Netflix boxing event, was first reported by Mike Coppinger of Ring Magazine on Tuesday, October 28.
Pacquiao confirmed in an interview with the International Boxing Association (IBA) there was a lot of negotiations taking place regarding his fight next year.
This comes as Pacquiao was recently named IBA Vice President.
"Right now, I can say there's onging negotiations with Floyd. But at the end of the day, if that negotiation materializes, we will announce," Pacquiao said in the IBA interview as posted by Elie Seckbach of Essentially Sports.
The IBA reporter also floated the name of Ukrainian pugilist Vasyl Lomachenko as one of the possibilities.
"Lomachenko, possible. There's a negotiation, it's hard to say. But it depends, negotiations are still ongoing," Pacquiao said.
The IBA also spoke that Conor McGregor was a possibility, and asked Pacquiao to choose between the Irish star or Russian MMA fighter Khabib Nurmagomedov.
Pacman chose McGregor.
"I want to shut his mouth," he said, laughing.
Pacquiao reiterated on Wednesday that there are negotiations with Mayweather.
Pacman made a promising return to the sport earlier this year when he fought to a contested draw against WBC welterweight champion Mario Barrios, boosting Pacquiao’s stock even at 46-years-old.
According to News5’s report, the fight would possibly happen next year — meaning that Pacquiao will be 47 at that point, with his birthday coming in December.
“I’m waiting for the final negotiations… There’s a possible rematch with Floyd Mayweather,” he said during the IBA press conference for the Thrilla in Manila anniversary event.
Asked on the progress of the talks, Pacquiao seemed to express optimism for the fight which could take place in Las Vegas.
"I feel initially like [we're] almost agreeing with each other, a lot of things [we're] agreeing [with] each other," Pacquiao told the IBA. "There's just a few conditions we're still negotiating."
It's worth noting that Mayweather and McGregor did meet in the boxing ring back in 2017, where the American won via 10th-round TKO.
While there is still no finality as to who will end up at the other corner of the ring when Pacquiao returns, there is some certainty that the 46-year-old will be making another comeback to the sport.
After a close call against Barrios, boxing’s only eight-division world champion will hope to prove his mettle with a victory this time.
If that opportunity comes against Mayweather, he will also be able to avenge his previous defeat against the American.
Mayweather won the match on May 2015 via unanimous decision after 12 rounds of boxing.
The judges scorecards were lopsided in favor of Mayweather (118-110, 116-112, 116-112).
Luisa Morales is a sports writer with a special interest in promoting women’s sports.
Her coverage highlights include the UAAP, PVL, Southeast Asian Games, and the FIBA World Cup. She also follows Alex Eala, the Philippine women’s national football team, and mixed martial arts.