Famed boxer Manny Pacquiao of the Philippines speaks to the media during a press conference with Jeff Horn of Australia in Brisbane, Wednesday, June 28, 2017. Pacquiao, is putting his WBO belt on the line Sunday, July 2, against the 29-year-old Horn. (AP Photo/John Pye)
Manny Pacquiao may very well reach a 70 total career fights if Top Rank CEO Bob Arum gets his wish for 2018.
As per BoxingScene.com, Arum is planning out two fights for the 39-year-old Pacquiao (59-7-2) in 2018 and it involves a potential shot for the WBO World welterweight title.
Arum wants Pacquiao to fight a top welterweight probably on April and then face the winner between WBO World welterweight champion Jeff Horn and Terence Crawford in September or October.
Pacquiao’s last fight saw him lose via controversial decision to Horn in Brisbane in July of 2017 and a rematch was immediately planned for November but was scrapped due to the Filipino’s commitment to the Philippine Senate.
“Manny Pacquiao’s plan revolves so much around politics, how much he’s needed by President [Rodrigo Duterte],” said Arum in the report. “I would like for him to come back in April. I’m working on that, whether or not I can accomplish that I don’t know, we’ll see.”
“I think we’ll give him a fight against a top welterweight where we are confident, or hope, that he will be successful. And then have him fight the Horn-Crawford winner in the fall.”
Horn (18-0-1) instead made his first defense of the strap and stopped British challenger Gary Concoran in the 11th round earlier this December.
Crawford, who became the undisputed junior welterweight champion after capturing the WBO, WBC, WBA, and IBF belts back in August, is now the mandatory challenger to Horn’s welterweight belt.
Horn’s defense against Crawford will likely happen on April 21 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.