Ryan Garcia is looking to bounce back from his second career loss with a big name on his record.
26-year-old Garcia returned from a year’s doping suspension in May, making his debut at welterweight but losing to underdog Rolando Romero over the distance after being dropped in the second round.
Now in recovery from hand surgery, the young star is looking to get back to winning ways and has set his sights on a recent Hall of Fame inductee in Manny Pacquiao.
‘PacMan’ returned this month, ending a retirement that lasted four years to challenge Mario Barrios for the WBC Welterweight World Title. In a relatively underwhelming contest that ended up a majority draw on the cards, many felt Pacquiao did enough to win.
Speaking to the Ring Magazine, Garcia revealed he has wanted the fight with Pacquiao long before this comeback made it a real possibility.
“I’ve been interested in fighting the legendary Manny Pacquiao for a while now. It’s something that you dream of. There were talks in the past of us fighting, and then it fell through. There is a history there. I am always up for the challenge. I would be lying if I said I am not interested. If Manny Pacquiao wants to throw down, let’s do it.”
Garcia – who says he presents a bad style match-up for the Filipino icon – sent the call out for a December fight in Las Vegas, though said that a rematch with ‘Rolly’ Romero, another man angling for the Pacquiao fight, is another option.
“I know that I would present a lot of problems for Pacquiao. I would dominate him. I would capitalise on Manny’s mistakes better than other guys. I would knock him out like Juan Manuel Marquez – all due respect to the legend Manny, though … I’m looking for and shooting for a fight in December … If Manny does want to fight me and make big money in a huge fight, then let’s do it. If not, that’s OK with me. I can fight Rolly in a rematch – either route is OK with me.”
Whilst Pacquiao did not confirm he would fight again following the draw with Barrios, he hinted strongly that his journey in the sport will continue. Should that be the case, big names like Garcia and Gervonta Davis are clearly the ones that interest his team, with advisor Sean Gibbons saying a rematch with Barrios, though potentially the most winnable fight, is not the move he will recommend.
