Manny Pacquiao and Ryan Garcia seem to be inching closer to a welterweight showdown, although one report raises doubt.
Yahoo Sports reported Saturday that the fighters have reached an agreement but organizers are still working out the financing, which shouldn’t be a problem given the magnitude of the event. The outlet cited a “source close to the fighters.”
Garcia made it clear on his Instagram Live channel that the bout would be sanctioned, not an exhibition, which was raised as a possibility. It would take place between 140 and 147 pounds.
“Hey everybody, just want to make it real clear — my fight with Manny Pacquiao will not be an exhibition. It will be a real fight. Shooting for 12 rounds,” Garcia said.
Also, Garcia advisor Guadalupe Valencia told The Athletic: “We’re discussing terms. Manny and Ryan want it and instructed their teams to make it happen. That’s what we’re trying to accomplish.”
Meanwhile, a representative of Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Garcia, told ESPN Saturday that the proposed matchup “isn’t going to happen” and suggested Garcia could face undisputed lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez instead.
“There’s nothing to talk about there,” Golden Boy President Eric Gomez told ESPN. “They contacted us, but it turns out there’s nothing to talk about. That fight isn’t going to happen.”
Gomez went so far as to say that executives from Golden Boy and Top Rank, Lopez’s promoter, are in talks for a lightweight bout.
“Teofimo is more feasible,” Gomez said. “It’s one of the fights that’s obviously of interest to Ryan Garcia. It could be a great fight.”
However, Sean Gibbons, President of Manny Pacquiao Promotions, seemed to give his endorsement by retweeting a Yahoo Sports tweet indicating the fight is on.
Garcia (21-0, 18 KOs) is coming off a sensational body-punch knockout of Luke Campbell on Jan. 2. Pacquiao last fought in July of 2019, when he outpointed Keith Thurman to win a welterweight title. He has been designated “champion in recess” because of his inactivity.
