Manny Pacquiao Begins Training Camp, Teases 'Big News'

Is Manny Pacquiao making a return to the boxing ring soon?

According to the eight-division boxing world champion, he has returned to training camp and plans to return to action soon.

The Filipino fistic sensation known as "Pac-Man" himself took to social media to announce his return to training and teased some "big news" as well.

“Training camp has begun. I’m ready to get back in the ring and to further add to my legacy in the sport of boxing. Big news coming soon,” Pacquiao wrote on his official Twitter account, before tagging his managing team, Audie Attar and Paradigm Sports.

It has been well over a year since the Filipino boxing icon last saw action inside the squared-circle.

Pacquiao fought twice in 2019, defeating Adrien Broner in a lopsided fashion in January before stunning Keith Thurman via split decision in July to unify the WBA welterweight championship.

In 2020, thanks in large part due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Pacquiao remained on the shelf and instead focused on his duties as a senator in the Philippines.

As a result of his inactivity, Pacquiao was designated as "Champion in Recess" by the WBA at the start of 2021.

While Pacquiao didn’t lace up a pair of boxing gloves last year, he was still a regular topic of headlines in boxing circles as his name was regularly discussed in potential matchups.

For a while, Pacquiao was linked to a welterweight unification bout against reigning WBO welterweight titleholder Terence Crawford.

However, the fight never materialized, and Crawford would instead go on to face and defeat Kell Brook this past November.

Pacquiao was also linked to a potential super-fight against former two-division UFC champion Conor McGregor.

Both Pacquiao and McGregor have openly discussed the possibility of a big-money matchup down the road. Following the Irishman’s second-round TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 257 last January, the crossover encounter is likely in jeopardy.

The most recent name that has been linked to Pacquiao is that of rising star Ryan Garcia.

The 22-year old lightweight is undefeated in 21 professional bouts, with 18 of those wins coming by knockout.

In his most recent outing, Garcia needed just seven rounds to knock out Luke Campbell to become the interim WBC lightweight champion.

In the aftermath of his title conquest, Garcia sparked talks of a potential bout with Pacquiao after taking to Instagram and posting a mock poster of himself with the fighting senator.

“A dream turned reality. It’s an honor to share the Ring with [Manny Pacquiao]. I will always respect what you did in and out [of] the ring. Here’s to the best man winning,” the caption on Garcia’s post read.

The rumblings of the Pacquiao-Garcia fight have died down during the past few days. Still, it’s interesting to see who the famous Pinoy southpaw could face in the ring next.