Off the back of his return from retirement this summer, iconic megastar Manny Pacquiao has been offered a sizable boost in his hope to return to the ring before the end of the year.
Snapping a lengthy four-year hiatus from the ring in a summer comeback, former multi-weight world champion Manny Pacquiao competed for world championship gold from the get-go.
Forcing a split decision draw against Mario Barrios in his pursuit of the WBC welterweight crown, Filipino star Pacquiao has been linked with some notable returns in the time since.
Expected to likely feature as soon as December, Pacquiao has now received a boost in those plans, with a rumored opponent confirming his interest in the “opportunity” to fight ‘Pacman’.
Rolly Romero confirms interest in fighting Manny Pacquiao
One potential opponent linked with securing a fight with Pacquiao in the veteran’s return to the ring is current WBA welterweight champion Rolly Romero — as has the polarizing Ryan Garcia.
However, with Romero also linked to a showdown with Garcia following his upset win over the youngster back in May of this year, the defending champion has confirmed his “interest” in fighting Pacquiao in a once-in-a-lifetime pairing.
“Of course, they both interest me,” Romero said of a fight with Pacquiao and Garcia during an interview with FightHype. “I mean, they’re both sort of equal right now.
“Ryan obviously wants his ‘get back’, and who wants to say no to a Pacquiao opportunity,” Romero explained.
Manny Pacquiao eyes ‘exciting’ comeback fight
Expected to make a return in another championship setting, off the back of his draw with WBC kingpin Barrios, Pacquiao’s team have confirmed plans for an “exciting” fight in his next walk to the ring.
Furthermore, while a fight with Garcia for Pacquiao was broached as well off the back of his fight with Barrios, a pairing has been branded as “difficult”.
“Rolly Romero is one of the frontrunners because Manny (Pacquiao) wants meaningful fights, “Sean Gibbons, Pacquiao’s manager, said. “He wants to break his own records and make history, just like when he won the world title at 40 years old.
“…A fight with Ryan Garcia has been discussed but he’s a complicated guy to deal with. It’s not out of the question, but it’s difficult,” Gibbons explained (H/T Seconds Out)