Who will Manny Pacquiao fight next? Floyd Mayweather favourite alongside Brit
- Joe Hewlett
- 27 June 2022
The Filipino icon is plotting a return to the ring although it would be in an exhibition rather than a comeback as a professional.
Manny Pacquiao is not short of options when it comes to boxing and following his defeat in the Philippines elections, it is increasingly likely that he will fight again.
The former eight-division world ruler has not been in action since his upset loss to Cuba's Yordenis Ugas last summer.
While Pacquiao won't be lacing up the gloves to win another world title, the chance to see the 43-year-old return in some capacity is good enough for fans.
Below, we look at five possible exhibition fights.
Floyd Mayweather
MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons exclusively told Planet Sport that Pacquiao was open to fight Mayweather in a rematch.
While Gibbons stated it had to be this year, money talks and you'd imagine "Pacman" would still take the showdown in 2023.
The first fight was the most lucrative in boxing history, selling 4.6 million PPVs in America. You'd imagine the second fight would become the highest grossing fight in exhibition history.
Amir Khan
The Brit retired last month after a heavy beating from arch-rival Kell Brook in February.
Khan did not rule out a return though in the form of exhibitions and revealed Floyd Mayweather an Manny Pacquiao had both reached out.
Khan and Pacquiao do have history though. They were sparring partners and both worked under Freddie Roach.
Juan Manuel Marquez
Perhaps Manny Pacquiao's most iconic rivalry - even more so than Erik Morales or Marco Antonio Barrera.
The duo had four fights from 2004 to 2012 and shared the ring with each other for 46 rounds.
Pacquiao won two while Marquez's only win was in their fourth and final fight. He won via knockout in round six with a thunderous right hand. Ring Magazine named it Knockout of the Year in 2012.
Oscar De La Hoya
The 49-year-old was one of the most popular fighters in recent years and before Floyd Mayweather, he was generating the most money in the sport.
Oscar De La Hoya then formed Golden Boy Promotions and has promoted some of the biggest fights, including some of his own - as well as Mayweather, Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Deontay Wilder.
In recent years, De La Hoya has lost his way in the promoting world and was training for a comeback fight of his own last year before pulling out due to testing positive for Covid-19.
De La Hoya fought Pacquiao in 2008 - his last fight as a professional with Pacquaio knocking him out in the eighth round.
Marco Antonio Barrera
The Mexican legend will take on Ricky Hatton towards the end of this year in an exhibition fight.
Barrera is a former three-division world champion and is most known for his fights against Erik Morales, Naseem Hamed and Manny Pacquiao.
Barrera fought Pacquiao twice and lost both. The first was in 2003 with Pacquiao knocking him out to win the Ring featherweight title before being outpointed three years later at super featherweight.
