Manny Pacquiao will not make a full comeback to the ring despite signing up to an exhibition fight later this year.
The Filipino star retired last year after being outpointed by Yordenis Ugas in a welterweight title clash. Pacquiao called time on his sensational career to focus on running in the election become president of the Phillipines.
After his presidential campaign came up short, Pacquiao announced he would return to the ring in exhibition format against South Korean YouTuber DK You this December. Links intensified that Pacquiao would be interested in a full comeback as a professional, with interest indicated in a renewed bout with Errol Spence.
However Pacquiao has now clarified he will train for the exhibition like he would any championship fight in the professional ranks. “I just want to work hard and make sure my condition is 100 per cent so I can still show off my skills in the ring," Pacquiao told Rappler when addressing the chances of him making a full comeback. "Although this is just a charity event to help people out, we will still prepare like it’s a championship fight.
"I took this exhibition to help out more in need, so we can continue giving out homes to our countrymen who don’t have one. I already have a lot of Pacman Villages started, but not yet finished. The income from this fight will be used for more homes." Any full return to the ring as a professional would see Pacquiao's five-year wait for induction into the Boxing Hall of Fame reset.
The exhibition bout will take place without a weight limit and will be fought over six two-minute rounds. Pacquiao has enjoyed a quiet life since coming third in the presidential elections but was recently spotted in Barcelona where reports of a potential end to his retirement intensified.
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Despite refusing to entertain a full comeback, Pacquiao could be interested in a number of future exhibition bouts including a high-profile rematch with Floyd Mayweather. His fellow boxing legend has already fought three times in boxing showcases against Japanese kickboxer Tenshin Nasukawa, YouTuber Logan Paul and former sparring partner Don Moore.
Sean Gibbons, head of MP promotions previously claimed that Pacquiao would love to fight Mayweather again but talks are understood to have not yet taken place. Another potential opponent for Pacquiao could be British star Amir Khan who has also recently retired from professional boxing.
Khan indicated that he had been approached by Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach over an opportunity for the pair to share the ring. "I got another phone call about another one today," Khan told iFL TV. "A friend of mine got a phone call from Freddie Roach to say 'listen we want to get a fight now Manny didn't win the elections, let's do an exhibition or maybe even a proper fight.' They also wanted to do it in the UK. I am not going to chase them now."
