LAS VEGAS - Saturday night could be the last time we see Manny Pacquiao inside a boxing ring when he meets Yordenis Ugas for the WBA (Super) welterweight title.
Speculation has been that it might be the end of Pacquiao's legendary career. However, the 42-year-old hasn't tipped his hand so far during fight week to which way he's leaning. Pacquiao will talk like he's riding off on his horse and into the sunset, and then a moment later he says he might be sticking around for a bit longer. At the same time, a loss to Ugas would be the writing on the wall for Pacquiao to walk away. But, on the other hand, a victory over the 2008 Olympic bronze medalist would appear to convince Pacquiao to continue.
On Wednesday, during a media session, which included DAZN News, the senator from the Phillippines revealed that if he decides to continue donning the boxing gloves, he prefers to battle the top two guns at the top of the welterweight mountain.
"Two fighters that I want to challenge if I’m still fighting and keep fighting are Errol Spence and Terence Crawford," Pacquaio said. "I want to fight the best."
Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) had initially been set to square off this weekend against Spence (27-0, 21 KOs). But the IBF and WBC champion was forced to pull out of the fight last week after the Nevada State Athletic Commission found that Spence had a retinal tear in his left eye during a pre-fight exam. Spence had surgery last week and is currently recovering.
Talks for Pacquiao against the WBO champ Crawford have been discussed throughout the years while both were under the same promotional outfit but didn't cross the finish line. In the spring, reports surfaced that a bout was finally going to happen in June. But, like previous conversations, it failed to come to fruition because of not securing the proper funds to stage the fight.