Former welterweight world champion Danny Garcia has revealed he has been planning a fight this fall against one of two opponents.
Speaking on DAZN's "The Ak & Barak Show," Garcia named Errol Spence Jr. and Manny Pacquiao as his two most likely competitors when he returns to the ring. Garcia's last fight came in January when he defeated Ivan Redkach at the Barclays Center in New York by unanimous decision.
"It can be done," Garcia said in response to a report that Spence would be his next opponent. "I was told either him or Manny Pacquiao. ... It should be in the fall. I don't want to give false information, like September, but it may be in the fall, either him or Manny Pacquiao."
Spence, the reigning WBC and IBF welterweight world champion, is 26-0 in his career but hasn't fought since September 2019 when he defeated Shawn Porter by split decision. He suffered serious facial injuries in a car crash less than two weeks later, flipping multiple times in his Ferrari while not wearing his seatbelt. He was found to be driving under the influence of alcohol and was charged with DWI.
Garcia said he hadn't thought about whether he'd get less credit by defeating Spence because of the accident.
"If you ain't a hundred percent, don't get into the ring," he said. "If you ain't ready, don't get in the ring. It's that simple. ... I don't want to hear any excuses. I've never made any excuses."
Pacquiao, on the other hand, hasn't had a fight since last July, when he took down Keith Thurman by split decision.
When asked which of the two he would rather fight, Garcia didn't give a definitive answer.
"It doesn't matter to me at this point," he said. "Both of them are champions. Spence would be better because I would win two titles — I would become a five-time world champion — but even beating a legend like Manny Pacquiao would be a great thing for my legacy."
Garcia, whose career record stands at 36-2, said he was glad he was able to set up a fight in January to avoid a long period out of the ring.
"If I didn't fight in January I would have been out of the ring for a long time, because nobody knew about COVID-19," he said. "I'm glad I pushed for a fight and I'm glad I got a fight. ... I feel like everything happens for a reason. I got the southpaw and now, whoever's next, maybe Manny or Spence. Most likely it may be looking more like Spence, but if Manny says yes then there's Manny."