Manny Pacquiao is planning to continue his boxing career beyond his upcoming clash.
The Filipino legend is due to return to the paid ranks for the first time in four years on July 19 in a WBC welterweight title fight against Mario Barrios.
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If Pacquiao, now aged 46, is able to overcome the odds and get his hand raised, then his adviser Sean Gibbons insists the first ballot Hall of Famer is hoping to land a ‘dream fight’ with Gervonta Davis thereafter.
“It took a roundabout way, but we got here,” Gibbons told World Boxing News.
“We would have liked Conor Benn and would have liked Gervonta Davis, but Manny Pacquiao had one thing in mind.
“He started with the WBC world title, which was his first belt (WBC flyweight).
“This will be an amazing full-circle moment to win another WBC belt, and it won’t be his last.
“When he beats Mario Barrios, line them up. His dream fight is Gervonta Davis. He loves that fight.
“He tried to get that fight for a couple of years. Gervonta kept talking about how he didn’t want to fight him at 145.
“Then he goes and gets smoked by Lamont Roach.”
WBA lightweight champion Davis is set to rematch Lamont Roach on August 16 after being held to a controversial draw in March.
YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul is said to be in discussions with Davis over an exhibition bout in November, although Davis has previously expressed interest in boxing Pacquiao as well.
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For now, Pacquiao will have to focus on the challenge at hand with Barrios.
The Mexican-American previously suffered an 11th-round stoppage loss to Davis, but has since rebounded to get his hands on 147lbs gold.
Barrios picked up the WBC interim welterweight title in September 2023 with a win over Yordenis Ugas, who beat Pacquiao in his last professional bout back in August 2021.
‘El Azteca’ was subsequently elevated to full world champion one year later when Terence Crawford vacated the belt to move up to super welterweight.
He then hung on to salvage a draw against the unheralded Abel Ramos in his first defence in November on the Paul vs Mike Tyson undercard.
Rather than rematch Ramos, Barrios has landed a lucrative contest with Pacquiao after a lengthy negotiation process.
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Pacquiao hasn’t boxed professionally since losing to Ugas, although he has been ticking over in exhibition bouts.
Last July, he was battered from pillar to post by Japanese kickboxer Rukiya Anpo, prompting fans to call for his retirement.
Despite this, the WBC have ranked Pacquiao at No.5 in their welterweight ratings and have given the bout with Barrios their blessing.
