After spending 26 years in professional boxing and winning world championships across eight weight classes, Manny Pacquiao (67-7-2, 39 KOs) is yet to have any second thoughts about picking new fighters, new titleholders.
The Filipino boxing virtuoso, 43, is still going stronger than ever, and also recently announced that he would face two fighters this year.
However, the WBA (Super) welterweight champion was recently stripped way from his belt due to being away from the squared circle for almost two years now, since winning the WBA belt against Keith Thurman back in July 2019.
As of now, Yordenis Ugás serves as the welterweight champion of WBA, while Pacquiao still remains as the sanctioning body’s “champion in recess”, while revealing that he has gone about five pounds up from 147- the welterweight limit.
But is PacMan happy about being a champion in recess?
Bring ‘em on: Manny Pacquiao is ready to have a title shot this year
On the heels of potential talks about facing longtime mutual admirer Conor McGregor, to sparring against the rising lightweight sensation Ryan Garcia, Manny Pacquiao wants to have a belt around his waist and his first aim is WBO welterweight champion, Terence Crawford.
In a recent interview with the Daily Tribune, Pacquiao revealed that he has had talks with Bob Arum, the CEO of Top Rank, for a potential title fight against Crawford, who has been the WBO champion since 2018 and had his last sparring contest against Kell Brook in November last year, marking his fourth straight successful title defense.
“I like to fight somebody who has a title,” said Pacquiao, but along with a championship, the pugilist also wants to make his pockets heavy, as he asked for a lump sum amount from Arum, Crawford’s promoter.
“We told Bob I get $40 million and Crawford gets $10 million,” the 43-year-old went on, “I will fight anybody. You know me, I don’t back away from any challenge. Bring ‘em on!” (H/T BoxingScene)
And Pacquiao means his words, he indeed is not backing away from any challenge, while also naming the WBC and IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence Jr as well as four division titleholder Mikey Garcia.
