Boxing: Pacquiao prepares professional comeback: Manny is willing to listen to

Manny Pacquiao retired from professional boxing in August 2021 after suffering a clear defeat to Cuban Yordenis Ugas.

At the time, the proximity of the Philippine general elections – coupled with the result of his fight and his age – led Pacquiao to bring an end to his successful cycle in the ring.

His commitment to his country came first, and he did well in his own right, coming third in a presidential election marked by the return to power of the Marcos dynasty.

Although he remains fully involved in politics, Manny has begun to look back at boxing.

Return to boxing

Late last year, the former eight-division champion starred in an exhibition fight against martial artist D.K. Yoo.

Exploiting his popularity was and is good business for one of the greatest in history and he is already planning a new exhibition event with the Rizin fight company, but his plans go much further than that, according to MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons.

According to him, talks are already underway with Eddie Hearn to set up a real fight against Connor Benn.

“These are not rumours, there are talks, but there is a long way to go,” he confirmed to ‘Fight Hype’ Gibbons.

“Would people love to see Manny in the ring? Yes.

“Against Conor? Yeah, they’re two big names.

“It’s an idea Eddie Hearn had and Manny said he was willing to listen to.”

The idea peddled by Hearn is a Pay Per View evening staged in the Middle East this year.

Benn’s fight for justice

Meanwhile, Benn is still trying to clear his name after testing positive before the fight against Chris Eubank Jr. last October.

The World Boxing Council (WBC) accepted the argument that a very high egg consumption was the reason for the adverse sample collected in the tests carried out on Benn between July and September, hence the presence of clomiphene.

However, a possible sanction for Benn is in the hands of the British Boxing Board of Control.