The wait for the return of Manny Pacquiao to the ring might come to an end soon.
A long-time friend of Pacquiao who refused to be identified told Bulletin-Tempo on Tuesday, Feb. 23 that the lone eight-division world champion wants a fight in May.
Other details such as who will be the opponent and where the fight will be held were not disclosed.
But the 42-year-old fighting senator is most likely set for a collision course against the 33-year-old American champion Terence Crawford, according to Top Rank Promotions big boss Bob Arum.
Arum said in the Barbershop Conversations podcast on Monday, Feb. 22 (in Manila) that an investor is willing to spend a huge sum of money to make the Pacquiao-Crawford fight a reality.
The investor, who likely hails from the Middle East, will shoulder the enormous site fee that could cover Pacquiao's reported asking price of $40 million from a $50 million purse in his possible fight with Crawford, a three-division world champion and the current holder of the WBO welterweight belt.
If Pacquiao's fight in May holds true, he still has three months to get back into the shape that enabled him to defeat Keith Thurman via split decision for the WBA (Super) welterweight title in July 2019.