Mikey Garcia is someone most boxing experts feel would be Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent. The earliest possible time that will happen is 2021 if the COVID-19 situation improves. But just recently, Conor McGregor announced via social media, alleging it will be him facing the Filipino boxing icon.
Regardless of the former UFC champion’s rants, Garcia is confident that he will be Pacquiao’s next opponent. The 32-year-old gave his take in a talk with Fight Hype, believing a fight with an actual boxer would be better for Pacquiao than a cross-fight with The Notorious.
“Manny Pacquiao’s next fight is not Conor McGregor. Manny Pacquiao’s next fight is with me. So McGregor has to take a number. McGregor’s next fight might be against Manny Pacquiao, but before that, Manny Pacquiao has to fight me first, and that’s 100 percent,” Garcia said.
The last time that Garcia entered the ring, he won via decision over Jesse Vargas. Before that, he lost lopsidedly against Errol Spence Jr. Other names mentioned as Pacquiao’s next opponent include Terence Crawford, Danny Garcia, Shawn Porter and Mikey Garcia.
As for McGregor, the obvious intent here is to make money. Considering the pandemic is still around, revenue is unlikely to be record-breaking. With no audience, organizers would have to rely on other means and sponsorships.
Garcia knows that a McGregor vs. Pacquiao fight is purely about business. For him, it will purely be about entertainment and nothing else. He admits that he will watch it but maintains that a real boxing match can still happen in 2021.
“I’ll watch it. It’s entertainment. Why do people watch WWE? It’s entertainment. Why do people watch the really bad fights out there? It’s entertainment. Manny Pacquiao’s next fight is with me. That’s going to happen, watch. It won’t be this year. It’ll be next year,” Garcia said.
McGregor is confident that the fight will happen and even insinuated that UFC president Dana White is aware of it. Representatives of Pacquiao are claiming that the fight is on with part of the purse fight going to COVID-19 relief efforts.
However, Pacquiao has one condition for the fight to push through. He said via the Daily Mail that he will only agree to face McGregor if he is made a co-promoter.
"At the present time, I do not have an existing management contract with Paradigm Sports Management. I have formed my own company, Pac Sports and Entertainment, and am more than willing to give the fans what they want: An exciting fight with Conor McGregor under terms and conditions where I am the co-promoter with my company. Thank you and God bless," Pacquiao said.
