Manny Pacquiao’s advisor Sean Gibbons has said the Filipino legend has given himself a nine-month window to fight again before hanging up his gloves for good.
The 45-year-old has not boxed since a 2021 loss to Cuban Yordenis Ugas, but the 72-fight veteran and future Hall of Famer was close to agreeing a bout with Conor Benn this year.
The two went head-to-head in Saudi Arabia and negotiations were opened, but Gibbons said they have subsequently broken down.
Benn failed two drug tests for PEDs ahead of a scheduled fight with Chris Eubank Jr. almost two years ago, and while it looked like he might be able to return to the ring in the U.K. courtesy of the National Anti-Doping Panel, that decision was appealed by both UKAD and the British Boxing Board of Control, and both bodies were successful.
It left Benn’s U.K. plans in limbo after fights in Florida and Las Vegas, and it ended hopes of the Pacquiao fight, too.
“You know, that fight was more or less in place to happen and, unfortunately, he lost the appeal,” Gibbons said. “We got bad luck. You saw the hype, the build-up, everybody was excited, all sides wanted to do it, but unfortunately losing the appeal cost the fight.”
Asked if Pacquiao could still return to the ring, Gibbons said the iconic Filipino was open to offers for the foreseeable future.
“It was always really a great dream for him and Conor McGregor, but Conor’s got so much UFC business or whatever,” added Gibbons. “Manny’s got about nine months left because he’s going to run for office again, so he’s still actively looking for something.”
And Gibbons is refusing to rule out Pacquiao-Benn altogether.
“Conor Benn, they said he comes off suspension in September, there’s still an opportunity to do that. I always thought Kell Brook would have been fun… Exhibitions… Conor Benn was the ideal fight because it would have been competitive.”
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