KEY POINTS

  • Mikey Garcia looms as possible next opponent for Manny Pacquiao
  • Garcia hoping for follow-up win to Jessie Vargas demolition
  • Pacquiao hardly showing signs of fighting again soon

Mikey Garcia knows that he is one of several names being suggested to be Manny Pacquiao's next opponent. The other one is another Garcia, Danny, but it appears the 32-year-old has now gotten a clean path. Danny Garcia has reached an agreement to face Errol Spence in November, leaving the former four-division champion as the logical opponent for the Pac-Man.

Garcia last entered the ring in February. He won via unanimous decision over Jessie Vargas in dominant fashion. It was a great win for the American pug who was coming off a loss to Errol Spence Jr. in March 2019. Now back to form, he is hoping to get the chance to face the Filipino boxing icon which could happen in the fall, Boxingscene.com reported.

On his end, Pacquiao has not fought since July 2019 where he won via split decision over Keith Thurman. That victory allowed the boxer-senator to win the WBA welterweight title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. There are reports he may fight before the year comes to an end although the COVID-19 pandemic may alter his plans.

There were even talks of Pacquiao possibly facing Gennady Golovkin, something that made its rounds online. This writer contacted people close to the Pac-Man and the source who requested not to be named said this was not true and unlikely to happen.

For Garcia, it would be another test for him. That loss to Spence was a result of his jump from lightweight to welterweight. Though he lost badly, Garcia opted to stay at the same weight class with hopes of winning another world title. And it appears that Pacquiao holds the key to Garcia fulfilling that dream.

“I would love it and it would be an honor to go up in the ring with Manny Pacquiao. He is a legend. It would be something great and it is the fight that interests me the most. Actually, we have not reached any agreement [with his team], I have not communicated with anyone from his team. But I would love it,” Garcia said.

Mikey Garcia
Mikey Garcia is looking for a big title fight at 147 pounds. In this picture, Garcia enters the ring for his WBC & IBF World Lightweight Title fight against Robert Easter Jr. at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, July 28, 2018. Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images

It will be interesting if anyone from MP Promotions can shed more light on a possible Manny Pacquiao vs. Mikey Garcia clash. Seeing how boxing may not be feasible right now, Garcia will just have to wait and see when the Pac-Man is ready to return to the ring.