Manny Pacquiao's Advisor Says Dream Fight Is Vs. Connor McGregor in Saudi Arabia

Manny Pacquiao is all but retired at this point, but there’s still a chance we’ll see him put those boxing gloves on and step back into the ring once again. In a new interview, his advisor Sean Gibbons revealed that the eight-time world champion is still in top form and ready to fight. In fact, Pacquiao is in the thick of training for an upcoming exhibition fight in Thailand scheduled in April 20. 

“I see this as the perfect springboard into doing something in June or July if that’s in Saudi Arabia, the United States or England, Manny has one last year of fighting before he looks at returning to politics,” Gibbons said. “Manny could do an exhibition with anyone until he is 100. He is built differently and has a fountain of youth, and we hope in the summertime we can do something big.”

Giboons said the team is looking specifically at Saudi Arabia, which he said is doing good things for sports.

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“What Saudi is doing is unbelievable for a lot of sports including boxing, soccer, and (sports) in general,” he said. “It’s amazing to have their support now, they have re-invented and re-energised boxing. Saudi Arabia does it one way, and one way only and that’s go big or go home. I had the pleasure of meeting his Excellency Turki Alalshikh with Manny Pacquiao and they have treated us with the utmost respect.

“They loved Manny and they want to have Manny to fight over in Saudi Arabia,” he said. “We are speaking with them about different matches to see what works because right at this moment, there is so many heavyweights to squeeze in at the start of the year, so we have to wait a little bit longer.”

As to the question of who, exactly, Pacquiao will fight, Gibbons dropped a few names, starting with superstar MMA fighter Connor McGregor.

“In a dream fight, McGregor would be tremendous,” he said. “Ten years ago, Pacquiao against McGregor wouldn’t have even been competitive but due to the fact Manny is a little older, Conor is still young and really has improved his boxing and gave Mayweather a great run, it would be a great fight. So, with the age factor, he could give Manny a good run.” 

Gibbons did clarify that there are currently no negotiations for a fight between Pacquiao and McGregor especially since the latter is still currently involved with UFC and is preparing for a big fight in June. He did say, however, that the fight between the two could be “revisited” in the future, along with the much-awaited rematch between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

“He is in the discussion every year,” Gibbons said about Mayweather. “Everybody wants to see that fight again apart from one person and that is Floyd Mayweather. Floyd caught Manny at the right time and beat him. But Manny is light years ahead of him now because Floyd’s skills have diminished incredibly.

“Manny’s hand speed is as fast as when he was at his peak, but Manny welcomes an exhibition or a rematch with Floyd and they talked about it in Japan,” he added. “Manny is a fighter and an entertainer, whoever wants some can get some, but this is on Floyd. They have been in discussions in Japan for Floyd and Manny for two years.”

McGregor recently poked fun at the way Pacquiao announced a planned rematch with Mayweather. On his Instagram account, the 35-year-old Irishman posted a clip of Pacquiao’s announcement in Tokyo, Japan, with the caption, ‘A lesson in how not to make an announcement.’ McGregor then added a laughing emoji. 

Pacquiao teased the match with Mayweather, leading to wild speculation within the boxing world. There has been no comment about it yet, however, from Mayweather’s camp.

Gibbons also dropped two names that he said Pacquiao was seriously looking at that may potentially be his farewell fights.

“Manny wants real fights and is looking to get in there and turn it up,” he said. “Manny is looking more at the likes of Gervonta Davis or Kell Brook.

Manny and Gervonta Davis match up really well and that would be a fun fight. It’s a matter of being able to make the fight and that’s the difficult part. To close out his career in Saudi, it makes so much sense because they love him in that area so we will keep focusing on that first and we will see what comes up.”