Ryan Garcia confirms fight with Manny Pacquiao


Photo from Ryan Garcia's Instagram account

Rising star Ryan Garcia announced that he is facing Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao, a super fight the American boxer believes to be “a dream turned reality.”

Th 22-year-old Garcia, the WBC interim lightweight champion, posted on social media that he is set to fight Pacquiao, who is 20 years his senior.

“It’s an honor to share the ring with Manny Pacquiao. I will always respect what you did in and out the ring. Here’s to the best man winning,” he wrote on various platforms.

Ryan Garcia stands in his corner before the WBC interim lightweight title fight against Luke Campbell at American Airlines Center on January 02, 2021 in Dallas, Texas. Tim Warner/Getty Images/AFP

Garcia recently beat Luke Campbell for the interim title. He holds an unblemished record of 21 wins, with 18 coming from knockouts.

MANNY PACQUIAO FREDDIE ROACH
In this file photo, Manny Pacquiao (right) trains with coach Freddie Roach. (Top Rank Images)

On the other hand, Pacquiao has not fought since July 2019 when he beat Keith Thurman. The Philippine senator is the only eight-division world champion and has a respectable record of 62 wins (39 KOs), seven defeats and two draws.