INTERNATIONAL matchmaker Sean Gibbons expects a thrilling fight between Sen. Manny Pacquiao and American rising star Ryan Garcia which is proposed for late April or early May this year.
“I think it is an interesting and entertaining fight. The new versus the old,”Gibbons, also the MP Promotions president, told BusinessMirror on Sunday. It’s like what Manny did when he was 135 lbs going to 147 [Oscar de la Hoya] before,” Pacquiao decimated de la Hoya in December 2008 via an eighth-round technical knockout victory in a non-title welterweight (142 to 145 lbs.) bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Garcia, unbeaten in 21 bouts with 18 knockouts, told various sports web sites that he would take on the 42-year-old Pacquiao (62-7-2 win-loss-draw record with 39 knockouts.
Although BusinessMirror learned the proposed bout is facing opposition among members of the Pacquiao camp, Gibbons said negotiations are ongoing with Garcia’s representative, Guadalupe Valencia.
“Yes, yes, yes,” added Gibbons when asked if he already presented a proposal to Pacquiao who was demoted by the World Boxing Association from welterweight world titleholder to “champion in recess” over the weekend because of inactivity for more than one year.
Cuban Yordenis Ugas was declared “super” welterweight champion.
The Paradigm Sports Management of Audie Attar, meanwhile, issued a statement on Sunday that the outfit has the authority to negotiate for Pacquiao.
“Anyone falsely representing themselves as Pacquiao’s manager or representative as it relates to his remaining fight career may face legal repercussions,” Attar said.
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