Mikey Garcia details Manny Pacquiao talks, remains hopeful

Might twelfth, 2021

ARLINGTON, Texas — Former four-division world titlist Mikey Garcia stated he stays in conversations for the battle he desires in opposition to legend Manny Pacquiao. Nonetheless, they haven’t been capable of lock it down.

In the event that they don’t do it quickly, he stated he would search for one other alternative.

“We’ve at all times been curious about a battle with Manny Pacquiao. Previous few months, the conversations got here up many, many occasions,” Garcia solely advised World Boxing Information whereas he was on website for Canelo Alvarez’s knockout victory over Billy Joe Saunders to unify tremendous middleweight titles on Saturday.

“We began growing a good suggestion, a plan, a proposal, nevertheless it hasn’t actually occurred. Nothing stable. So, if that’s the case, I’m prepared to maneuver on and seek for one other battle, probably to get a battle in July, August and perhaps that would set me up for one thing greater earlier than the top of the yr.

“I’m able to get again within the ring. That’s what I need to do. I need to get again within the ring, present my followers and everyone that I’m right here, that I haven’t left. We’ve been absent for over a yr now after the battle with (Jessie) Vargas, however many fighters have had absences as a result of pandemic. We need to get again. We’re prepared.”

MIKEY GARCIA TARGET

On Feb. 29, 2020, Garcia knocked former two-division titlist Jessie Vargas, down within the fifth spherical and gained a unanimous 12-round resolution in an entertaining battle on the Ford Heart in Frisco, Texas.

After the bout, Garcia and Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn got here to the information convention and stated they hoped to make a battle with Pacquiao, a showdown that they believed can be thrilling and have loads of fan curiosity. Pacquiao’s group additionally stated they had been .

However two weeks later, the sports activities world shut down as a result of coronavirus pandemic, and Pacquiao and Garcia, whereas engaged in talks, have but to battle since. Pacquiao has not boxed since dropping and outpointing Keith Thurman to win a welterweight world title in July 2019.

CONTACTS

Garcia stated he has lengthy been speaking to Pacquiao’s folks about making an attempt to make the bout.

“However there’s lots of people relating to Manny Pacquiao. Everyone round him is a supervisor. Everyone round him is the one adviser you gotta speak to,” Garcia stated with fun. “And so generally I get one man telling me it is a achieved deal, we’re able to go. After which another person says, ‘no, no, no, we’d like one thing else.’

“It’s at all times, ‘Manny loves the battle with you, it’ll be a 12-round battle; clearly, it will likely be an enormous occasion. He loves the concept of preventing you.’ They’ve talked about (preventing) in Saudi Arabia. They point out Los Angeles. They point out probably right here in Texas. So, we’ve had conversations, nevertheless it has by no means actually solidified.

“There’s at all times one thing lacking or one thing retains it from taking place.”

Garcia stated he had spoken instantly with Audie Attar, Pacquiao’s supervisor from Paradigm Sports activities Administration, and Attar’s group.

“We’ve been near getting one thing, however we simply haven’t been capable of lock it in. We really feel we’re virtually there, after which it simply doesn’t fairly get there,” Garcia stated. “The pandemic has been a part of it. Initially, we thought it might be someday in Might. This was a couple of months again, like January, February. Now Might is out, June is out as a result of we’re not there but.

“We want time to advertise and to work and practice. We’ve had all these concepts and conversations and simply haven’t been capable of lock it in.”

FINANCIAL ASPECTS

Garcia stated they’ve additionally mentioned the monetary facets of a deal and that they’re “not too far off. I’m affordable too. I’m not throwing loopy numbers on the market. I do know what it’s. And since there isn’t any actual assure from a website or a community we received to promote. So, I’m OK with taking rather less than a typical quantity so you will get (cash) on the upside if they permit me to get some.”

If the battle was to occur, it’s fairly potential it may function a farewell bout for Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs), 42, the eight-division champion, future Corridor of Famer, and senator in his house nation of the Philippines. Garcia stated that prospect would make the battle much more important in his eyes.

“Milestone battle in my profession for my legacy to step contained in the ring with a dwelling legend like Manny,” Garcia stated. “He’s not going to be right here for much longer, and if I can catch that, it might be terrific. It might be fantastic to share that ring with a legend. You can also make the argument he’s essentially the most achieved boxer ever. So, that will be wonderful. I’d love that, and that’s why we’ve been making an attempt to get that.”

SPARRING

Garcia (40-1, 30 KOs), 33, of Moreno Valley, California, recalled a time in 2006 when he hung out sparring in Pacquiao’s coaching camp. Garcia was only a few fights into a professional profession during which he would win titles from featherweight to junior welterweight. Pacquiao had already gained titles in three divisions on his technique to the eventual report eight.

“I did assist him out for sparring,” Garcia stated. “However I simply turned professional. I used to be 18 or 19, and I helped out for sparring for a couple of weeks. However we don’t actually know one another. I bumped into him a number of occasions when he was preventing and on the Thurman battle after I was doing a little work with Showtime. There isn’t any unhealthy blood.

“To beat him, you put together one of the best you possibly can, get in one of the best form potential. Attempt to get one of the best conditioning since you don’t know which Manny goes to indicate up. Is he the Manny that’s going to start out a bit of sluggish after which choose it up, or is he going to start out quick as he did with Thurman? You need to be prepared. We might make a great battle.

“I believe the followers would take pleasure in it very a lot. It is perhaps Pacquiao’s final battle, in order that additionally provides to the joy of it. There’s nobody else on the market for him.”

MANNY PACQUIAO CONTACT

Garcia stated he was in contact with Attar as just lately as a bit of over every week in the past.

“We talked about it with Audi, and he stated they may have the ability to discover a technique to get (the battle) right here within the States,” Garcia stated. “However I’m not getting my hopes up anymore. What I’m making an attempt to do now’s to start out on the lookout for another choice, one other battle, but when it lands on my desk, I’ll take that.

“I did the battle with Jessie at 147 as a result of I felt it might place me properly for a battle with Manny Pacquiao, however I can (battle at) 140 or 147.

“We’ve had all these conversations. I do need to battle. Everyone tells me Manny likes the battle with me, and he’s onboard. However he additionally desires to get taken care of financially.

“It’s some huge cash he’s asking for as a assure. It’s some huge cash and rightfully earned. He’s Manny Pacquiao. He’s a legend.”

Dan Rafael is a lead boxing contributor for World Boxing Information. Observe Dan on Twitter @DanRafael1. Dan Rafael is a full member of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.