Manny Pacquiao among names being floated as next Ryan Garcia opponent
Filipino boxing legend Manny Pacquiao is being floated as the next possible opponent to the popular young American boxer Ryan Garcia, according to reports.
*Ryan Garcia (left) and Manny Pacquiao (AFP Photo)
* It was actually Garcia’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, who brought up the idea during an interview on Thursday, June 1 (Manila time), throwing in the name of the Filipino boxing icon along with the likes of Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz, and Teofimo Lopez. “I’m also looking at Manny Pacquiao. Manny vs. Ryan, do you know how huge that would be? That’s bigger than anything on the table,” De La Hoya told the media when asked about Garcia’s next possible opponent. "I got a few tricks up my sleeve. It would be like a catchweight. I’m not sure what, but I’m going to pursue that and all the other options. We’ll see what the best option is for Ryan,” he added. Pacquiao, now 44 years old, has been retired from professional boxing since losing to Yordenis Ugas in 2021 but last set foot on the ring during an exhibition match against Korean YouTuber DK Yoo last year. De La Hoya's statements, however, didn't sit well with Garcia who expressed his disapproval through a tweet. “This isn’t happening!! I said what I wanted. It’s frustrating. Tired of this,” said Garcia. The previously undefeated 24-year-old boxer is coming off his first loss at the hands of Gervonta Davis who stopped him in the seventh round of their fight last April 22 dropping his record to 22-1 with 19 KOs. In a separate tweet, Garcia already stated that he wants a fight against either Romero, Cruz or Lopez.