Ryan Garcia has revealed that he will be fighting Manny Pacquiao, stating, “It’s happening on ….
Ryan Garcia has announced that he will be facing Manny Pacquiao in an exhibition match later this year in Japan. This news comes amid Garcia’s boxing career being in a state of uncertainty following a one-year ban for testing positive for Ostarine, which led to his victory over Devin Haney being overturned to a no-contest.
Garcia, who recently attended Pacquiao’s exhibition fight against former K-1 Champion Rukiya Anpo in Japan, took the opportunity to challenge Pacquiao directly. The exhibition, which saw the 45-year-old Pacquiao struggle against Anpo, did not have an official winner due to the lack of scoring, but it was clear that Pacquiao was outperformed.
In response to his upcoming match, Garcia expressed his enthusiasm about fighting Pacquiao, emphasizing that he prefers a real fight over an exhibition. “I would love to fight Manny Pacquiao in a real fight, 12 rounds,” Garcia stated. He also mentioned his willingness to engage in bare-knuckle bouts with other fighters like Sean O’Malley and Conor McGregor, showcasing his versatility and readiness for various challenges.
Garcia revealed during a livestream with Vitaly that the exhibition fight with Pacquiao is set to take place at the end of the year. While the exact date and location are still being finalized, Japan remains a strong possibility. Garcia is using this time to focus on his training and prepare for the fight, aiming to make a comeback after his ban ends in April 2025.
For Pacquiao, this exhibition match with Garcia effectively rules out a potential bout with WBC Welterweight Champion Mario Barrios. Pacquiao had been linked to a professional return after his retirement in 2021, with a victory over Barrios potentially breaking his own record as the oldest welterweight champion. However, given his performance in the recent exhibition and the upcoming match with Garcia, a professional return seems increasingly unlikely.
