Hearn Eager To Stage Pacquiao’s Next Fight in Saudi Arabia

As BoxingScene.com previously reported, WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao is planning to fight again on a date in July.

Pacquiao has been out of the ring since July of 2019, when he turned back the clock with a twelve round unanimous decision over undefeated Keith Thurman to capture the WBA title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Two of the opponents on Pacquiao’s hit list – WBC, IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence and former four division world champion Mikey Garcia.

Spence has been out of the ring since being involved in a care accident, but he plans to return in the summer.

And Garcia was in action last month, when he won a dominant twelve round decision over two division champion Jessie Vargas.

“My assessment is Spence is the kind of boxer who can move, a slugger,” Pacquiao told ANC in the Philippines.

“If we’re going to fight, I need to focus on strategy, hand speed, footwork. Mikey Garcia is a brawler, aggressive. He’s got different techniques also. So we need to practice and apply on that fight.

“My plan is to get back into the ring this coming July, second or third week in July. Training should start in April, May, June. We have enough time.”

Hearn staged a huge event in Saudi Arabia in December, with the Anthony Joshua vs. Andy Ruiz rematch.

His partners in the country are now asking him to stage another big card, this time around the month of July.

Hearn, who worked with Garcia for his last fight, would love to make a deal to stage a fight between him and Pacquiao in Saudi Arabia.

“We’re gonna be doing a show there at the end of June/early July, which we’re looking into at the moment,” Hearn said to The Express.

“We have a partnership in place with Skills Challenge for shows in Saudi and that also involved some exciting stuff about academies and performance centres to try and bring amateurs through in Saudi Arabia as well. They want us to deliver a huge show at the end of June/early July. I think Manny Pacquiao is a guy they would probably love to bring to the Kingdom.”

There is some confusion over how many fights Pacquiao has left with Premier Boxing Champions. Some of his handlers have claimed the deal is up, while other handlers involved with him have stated that he’s still contractually tied to PBC for a few more fights.