Boxing: Kampo ni Pacman naghahagilap na ng makakatunggali bago matapos ang 2024

Naghahagilap na ng makakabanatan si eight-division world men’s pro boxing champion Manny ‘Pacman’ Pacquiao sa United Kingdom matapos maudlot ang world title fight nito kay World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight king Mario ‘El Azteca’ Barrios ng Estados Unidos.

Bukod sa pagtungo sa United Kingdom, inihatid rin ng Pinoy boxing legend ang panganay nitong anak na dalaga na si Mary Divine Grace ‘Princess’ Pacquiao sa London upang doon na magkolehiyo.

Pinanood din ni Pacquiao ang title defense ni International Boxing Federation (IBF) heavyweight champ Briton Daniel Dubois kontra sa kababayang si Anthony Joshua sa Wembley Stadium nitong Linggo, Setyembre 22, kung saan nagresulta ito sa fifth round knockout win. 

Ngunit inihayag ni MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons na hindi na mapakali ang kanyang boss para sa comeback fight nito na maaring maging farewell bout bago pormal na magretiro sa boxing ngayong taon.

“We are here in town, we are in London, and we will be attending the Joshua fight. Manny would love to end his career in England. The thought was that before he makes his way into the political field in 2025, he’d like to do one more fight and like to finish his career in England. What better place than where boxing started? 

“We will see what we can come up with while we are here, but we plan to talk to Ben [Shalom] over a fight on Sky Sports, possibly before the Usyk vs Fury rematch in December,” saad ni Gibbons.

Matatandaang naudlot ang pinaplanong laban ni Pacquiao kay future Hall of Famer-Barrios nang pumayag ang huli na sagupain ang kapwa American na si Abel Ramos na gaganapin sa Nobyembre 15 sa AT&T Stadium sa Arlington, Texas.

Samantala, ilan naman sa mga tinatarget ni Pacman na makalaban ay sina dating sparring partner 2004 Athens Olympics silver medalist Amir ‘King’ Khan, Harlem Eubank, world challenger Kell ‘The Special One’ Brook, at undefeated Conor ‘The Destroyer’ Benn sa UK Arena bago mag-Pasko.

“The Khan fight has been talked about for fifteen years and at various times has tried to be made. I think that would be a very fun fight due to where they are both at with their careers. We also talked about Conor – if he’s off his suspension, that would be tremendous in December. So whatever it is, Manny would love to fight here in England,” dagdag ni Gibbons.