Boxing icon Sen. Manny Pacquiao is not looking for a return to the ring, for now. But a challenge from American boxing star Ryan Garcia might lure the boxer-turned-senator from General Santos City back into the ring.
“A dream turned reality. It’s an honor to share the ring with (Manny Pacquiao),” the WBC interim lightweight champion wrote on his official Instagram account.
But Pacquiao has priorities at the moment, considering that the world is in the middle of a struggle against the coronavirus pandemic, according to his special assistant Jayke Joson.
“Honestly, sa ngayon hindi niya priority ang boxing. Mas mabigat ‘yung laban ni [Senator Pacquiao] ngayon… Laban ng bawat Filipino at diyan siya naka-focus ngayon kung paano maitawid ang ating mga kababayan dito sa pandemyang COVID,” said Joson in a television interview on CNN Philippines.
When Pacquiao last went into the ring, he won over Keith Thurman, Jr. in 2019 for the World Boxing Association super welterweight title.
Meanwhile, Conor McGregor, another possible Pacquiao opponent in the future, admitted he was “heartbroken” Sunday after a shock UFC knockout by underdog Dustin Poirier left the superstar’s future in the cage uncertain.
“It’s hard to take,” Irishman McGregor told a post-fight news conference.
“(It’s) the highest highs and the lowest lows in this game. I don’t know where I’m at, at the minute, to be honest,” said the biggest drawcard in mixed martial arts.
The 32-year-old McGregor had been an overwhelming favourite to register a winning return after a year away from the octagon.
But Poirier (27-6), who lost in 109 seconds to McGregor in their first fight in 2014, used a lower leg kicking strategy to negate his opponent’s stand-up style.
The defeat may also mean McGregor now explores other avenues, such as a money-spinning boxing match against Pacquiao.
McGregor fought retired unbeaten boxing great Floyd Mayweather in 2017, earning an estimated $30 million dollars in a blockbuster crossover bout.
McGregor deflected questions about the possibility of a fight against eight-weight world champion, saying he was more concerned with healing his damaged leading right leg.
“I’ll regroup,” said McGregor. “I’ll pick myself up, get up off the floor and go again. I’ll keep my head high.”
Pacquiao had wished McGregor luck on social media ahead of and tweeted afterwards: “Beautiful thing about the fight game, anything can happen! Congrats to @DustinPoirier Huge win! #UFC257.”
There was still time though for one last flash of McGregor’s old brashness, before he limped away, when he was told of Nurmagomedov’s mocking social media posts.
“That’s the character of the man for sure, behind the mask,” McGregor snapped back.
“If he wants to have his disrespectful comments, come back and let’s go again.”