Manny Pacquiao targeted for world title fight against two weight champion

Manny Pacquiao could be presented with a world title opportunity following the postponement of his rematch with Floyd Mayweather.

Their second encounter was scheduled to take place this September, over a decade removed from Mayweather’s unanimous decision victory over the Filipino.

It was reported last week, however, that Pacquiao has been left without an opponent after his American rival was hit with a $4.65m lawsuit by CSI Sports Events.

As Mayweather attempts to navigate this situation, it remains to be seen whether the ‘Pac Man’ rematch will even take place, let alone be rescheduled for a date in 2027.

In the meantime, MP Promotions CEO Jas Mathur has insisted that Pacquiao is now searching for a new dance partner to face later this year.

One potential opponent could be newly-crowned IBF welterweight champion Liam Paro, who dethroned Lewis Crocker with a unanimous decision victory last week.

In doing so, the Aussie became a two-weight world champion in impressive fashion, with his promoter, George Rose of No Limit Boxing, insisting at the post-fight press conference that he would happily welcome Pacquiao back to Queensland, Australia.

“I think the two best divisions in boxing are the welterweight and junior middleweight divisions … the champions that exist there – Devin Haney, Rolly Romero, Ryan Garcia.

“I would love to have any one of them down here, any day of the week.

“They’ve tossed up the likes of Manny Pacquiao, who is still floating around in the welterweight division wanting to fight. [It] would be great to bring that down here.”

Pacquiao’s last trip to Queensland – at least in a boxing sense – saw him defend his WBO welterweight title with a unanimous decision victory over Jeff Horn in 2017.

With the 47-year-old having never held the IBF title at 147lbs, though, he could be tempted by another assignment Down Under, this time against the 17-years-younger Paro, where a win would see Pacquiao break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in history.