Ryan Garcia and Manny Pacquiao. AFP FILE Photos
MANILA, Philippines — Most critics see up-and-coming star Ryan Garcia as the heavy underdog in a potential fight with Filipino legend Manny Pacquiao.
But that doesn’t mean a massive upset is out of the equation.
“The kid has youth on his side and can punch. His defense is suspect but the senator is 42 years old and has been out of the ring for one year and 10 months so anything can happen,” MP Promotions president Sean Gibbons told boxingscene.com.
Garcia is 20 years younger than Pacquiao and has knocked out 18 of his 21 opponents including former title contender Luke Campbell last month in Dallas, Texas.
Garcia stopped Campbell in the seventh round but not after surviving a second-round knockdown to claim the WBC interim lightweight title.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, hasn’t returned in the ring since beating Keith Thurman back in July 2019 in Las Vegas to capture the WBA (Super) welterweight belt.
The sport’s only eight-division champion, however, was recently relegated by the WBA as its ‘champion in recess’ due to his inactivity which is largely attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Pacquiao and Garcia could meet in the ring later this year although, nothing is certain yet.
“They are ongoing and hopefully things will work out,” Gibbons said.