Boxing Rumors: Manny Pacquiao's Return Fight In 2020 Still Possible, Says Camp

Manny Pacquiao’s team is not ruling out the possibility of the Pacman making a return to the ring this year. While admitting that it will be tough to stage an event amidst the challenges brought about by the global pandemic, the Filipino legend’s camp still braces for the comeback with several offers from different countries making their pitch to host the potential fight card.

MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons gave an overview of Pacquiao’s possible bout in 2020 as he stated that his team is taking into consideration all factors present before giving the nod on offers from different locations, such as the United States and Saudi Arabia.

"There’s a possibility, but you’ve got to remember, there’s a lot of things that have to happen. First of all, COVID-19 needs to rapidly get slowed down in the US or in Saudi Arabia, where we’ve had offers," Gibbons said in an interview on the Philippine Sportswriters’ Association Forum last Tuesday, as reported by ABS-CBN Sports.

Of the two countries, Gibbons said that they are strongly considering Saudi Arabia, which appears to have the upper hand given its convenience in terms of logistics for Pacquiao, who has been keeping himself busy with his legislative work as a Senator of the country.

"Now, if somehow, Saudi Arabia, who has shown great interest in the senator fighting there before COVID-19 hit, if they were to come around, that would be good for the Senator because he wouldn’t really have to miss that much time like he does, having to come to the US,” the boxing executive bared.

"And the other thing is the Senator’s schedule, again. You’ve got to remember, his time to fight is generally July, January, July January due to his schedule in the Senate.”

Pacquiao, 41, on most occasions, has cautiously declined to talk about his active boxing career, much less about his next fight since the COVID-19 crisis started. Although mum on definite plans for his return, the eight-division world champion has maintained his activity as he has been flaunting his home workouts and light training to stay in tip-top shape.