Is Manny Pacquiao back in training? Philippines icon keeps fans guessing who his next opponent could be
- Eight-division world champion works up a sweat in his latest photo on social media
- Pacquiao might face American-Mexican Mikey Garcia in early 2020 with negotiations already taking place
Philippines boxing icon Manny Pacquiao posted a photo of himself in training on social media and had the world guessing who his next opponent could be.
Less than two months after defeating previously unbeaten Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, the 40-year-old fighting senator from Sarangani province was working up a sweat again as he trained on a double end bag. The photo had more than 100,000 likes within 20 hours of being posted on Instagram.
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) was smiling in the photo but didn’t offer any words with the image, leaving millions of his fans guessing why the WBA super welterweight champion would hit the gym in full boxing gear just seven and a half weeks after beating Thurman by split decision.
If Pacquiao does fight again early next year, it won’t be against Floyd Mayweather Jnr, who has reportedly negotiated a deal with the Mission Hills Group in Haikou, Hainan, to fight an exhibition on the mainland next year. Details of the bout will be announced on September 18 for Mayweather’s “first fight in China”.
With a Pacquiao-Mayweather rematch not on the cards soon – they fought in 2015 with Mayweather winning by unanimous decision – it leads to speculation the Filipino legend is in negotiations with several top fighters in the welterweight division.