Bob Arum set to materialize Manny Pacquiao’s boxing return next year

By Leobert Julian A. de la Peña

Despite hanging up his gloves two years ago, Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao is still considered a big fish to catch in the sport of boxing.

In a recent interview with his former promoter, Top Rank’s Bob Arum, the boxing personality confirmed that he is already arranging a comeback fight for Pacquaio in 2024.

Arum revealed that he is setting up Pacquiao for a fight against Scottish superstar Josh Taylor, a former undisputed super lightweight champion of the world.

“A guy I’d like to get for Josh Taylor is Pacquiao. I think that’d be a good fight, at a catchweight or maybe at 147. I think that’s a fight that Pacquiao would be interested in,” Arum told Pro Box TV.

Taylor is coming off a disappointing loss to Teofimo Lopez last June 10, 2023, where he put his IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO super lightweight belts at stake.

Aside from losing all of his championship belts to Lopez, Taylor also suffered his first-ever professional defeat in eight years.

On the other hand, Pacquaio is enjoying retirement and has only agreed to fight in exhibition matches under 12 rounds.

Last December 12, 2023, Pacquiao returned to the ring after fighting South Korean YouTube star DK Yoo held at the Korea International Exhibition Center.

Everything was still there. Pacman’s footwork, speed, fluid head movement, and his signature left hook.

Pacquiao announced that he only accepted the exhibition fight to help more Filipino people including the addition of his Pacman villages.

“I took this exhibition to help out more in need, so we can continue giving out homes to our countrymen who don’t have one. I already have a lot of Pacman Villages started, but not yet finished. The income from this fight will be used for more homes,” said Pacquiao prior to the fight.

Can Arum make the fight happen? Will we see the return of boxing’s only eight-division world champion again?