Ryan Garcia is dreaming of a fight with the legendary Manny Pacquiao before he retires for good.
The Californian is coming off the back of his hardest fight yet, when he knocked out Luke Campbell with a brutal body blow despite being knocked down for the first time in his career.
His win earned him a mandatory title shot with WBC lightweight champion Devin Haney, but he has talked up a fight with Gervonta Davis in the aftermath of his victory, even going to so far as to agree to a fight with him on Mike Tyson’s boxing podcast.
Speaking to ES News, Garcia suggested that he would ultimately like to take on Philipino senator Pacquiao, who is currently considering a return to the ring against Conor McGregor, amongst other options.
Discussing the 42-year-old legend, Garcia said: "That's the dream. Manny is a legend and it would be like surpassing him in the humblest way. I don't want this to sound like I'm being disrespectful, Manny knows my respect for him
"People love him because he fights with his heart. You don't even have to tell people to respect him, because more than one entire country supports him."
Pacquiao arguably enjoyed his greatest success at welterweight but has fought at lightweight before, against Oscar De La Hoya. As Garcia could move up to welterweight or junior welterweight in the coming years, a fight could conceivably be made.
Pacquiao last fought in July 2919 when he beat Keith Thurman for the WBA welterweight title and has since focused on his political career. He has said he will return to action in 2021 when his schedule allows, with McGregor and potentially Errol Spence under consideration as his next opponent.