BOXING
Hearn: “The Pacquiao-Benn fight is ready to go”
Manny Pacquiao, who recently announced he would come out from retirement, could fight sooner than expected, according to promoter Eddie Hearn’s comments.
Manny Pacquiao has achieved everything in boxing, has made a fortune, and is recognized as one of the very best fighters of all time.
Another boxer would happily enjoy his retirement, but the Filipino superstar, 44, is willing to get back into the ring again to keep doing what he loves most and to give fans more fights to remember.
The last step to make The Pac-Man return possible is that his expected opponent, Conor Benn, makes the final move and agrees to face the Asian warrior, according to boxing promoter Eddie Hearn.
He admitted to Fight Hub TV that Benn Vs. Manny Pacquiao is a fight that is “ready to go”, if Benn wants it, while Pacquiao “wants the fight badly.”
It seems that Benn will have to choose among three possibilities soon: fighting Pacquiao, Chris Eubank Jr., or Kell Brook.
The Brit has no license to fight in the UK after testing positive for clomiphene, but he can do it outside the country. Fighting Pacquiao would mean for Benn a unique opportunity to fight such a legend and to prove he has the skills to become a star.
However, Benn could lean towards a more “domestic” fight in Eubank Jr, as both men were scheduled to meet in the ring before Benn’s doping episode.
The son of former British champion Chris Eubank got TKO’d out in the fourth round against Liam Smith last January at the AO Arena, in Manchester. Benn could ask for that fight taking into consideration that losing that way could affect Eubank negatively if they fight each other next.