Manny Pacquiao has confirmed he plans to return to the ring this summer, with the Filipino eyeing a fight in July with either Errol Spence Jr or Mikey Garcia.
The WBA welterweight champion, 41, has not fought since last July's victory against the previously unbeaten Keith Thurman. Contesting his third world title fight in 12 months, Pacquiao prevailed by split decision in Las Vegas to take the "super" crown.
Since then, the eight-division world champion, a sitting senator in the Philippines, has been linked with a number of possible opponents, including even a crossover clash with UFC’s Conor McGregor.
However, speaking on Tuesday to Filipino broadcaster ANC, Pacquiao seemed to be focused purely on a more conventional route back.
"My plan is to get back into the ring this coming July,” he said. “Second or third week in July. Training should start in April, May, June. We have enough time.
"There's a lot of possible opponents, like Mikey Garcia, Errol Spence or [Terence] Crawford, and also there's boxers from Canada and Mexico who want to fight with me.”
Asked who represented his top two choices, Pacquiao said: "That's Errol Spence and Garcia.”
Garcia (40-1, 30 KO) would seem the most logical next step,given the American defeated Jessie Vargas at the weekend by unanimous decision in only his second appearance at welterweight.
Garcia, 32, lost comprehensively to IBF champion Spence last March, with many within boxing believing he should move down the weights. More of a natural lightweight, he has won world titles in four different divisions.
Spence, meanwhile, has returned to training having recovered from a serious car crash last October. Undefeated in his 26 professional fights, the American is viewed as the most accomplished boxer in the division, alongside WBO champion Crawford.
His last appearance in the ring came in September, when he defeated Shawn Porter on points, weeks before his accident. Spence, who turned 29 on Tuesday, has been tipped for a comeback fight in early summer.
"My assessment is Spence is the kind of boxer who can move, a slugger. If we're going to fight I need to focus on strategy, hand speed, footwork," Pacquiao said. "Garcia has a different style than Errol Spence. Mikey Garcia is a brawler, aggressive. He's got different techniques also, so we need to practice and apply on that fight."
Whatever Pacquiao decides, it appears the novelty match-up with McGregor will not be happening any time soon. Rumours of a potential money-spinning fight ramped up last month, when Pacquiao signed to Paradigm Sports Management, the same company that represents the former two-weight UFC champion.
Speaking to ESPN in January before his triumphant return against Donald Cerrone, McGregor said: "Me and Manny, there's been talks about the fight. There was an offer made on that … just not yet. It's very much so [a possibility] … there were negotiations going on."
McGregor has made the crossover to boxing before, when he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr in 2017 in what turned out to be one of the most lucrative events in the sport’s history. The controversial Irishman was defeated easily, however, losing by technical knockout in the 10th round.
