Ryan Garcia is now pushing for a fight against the 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao, and he believes he’s got the style to knock him out. Garcia (24-2, 20 KOs) says Pacquiao (62-8-3, 39 KOs) can make “big money” by fighting him. That may not be enough to entice Manny.
Jurassic” Comeback Concerns
Ryan, 26, says if he can’t get the Pacquiao fight, he’ll fight Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero in a rematch to avenge his loss from last May at Times Square in New York. It’s doubtful that even Garcia can bring in a lot of PPV buys for a fight against Manny.
There’s just not a lot of interest from younger fans in seeing a fossil coming back to life from the Jurassic period. Fighting Pacquiao would backfire on Kingry’s career, diminishing it and making him appear like an influencer.
“If Manny Pacquiao does want to fight me and make big money in a huge fight, then let’s do it. If not, that’s OK with me. I can fight Rolly in a rematch. Either route is OK with me,” said Ryan Garcia to Ring Magazine. “I would knock him out like Juan Manuel Marquez.”
It’s a no-win situation. If Ryan annihilates Pacquiao with one of his left hooks, he won’t receive credit. The money Garcia would get from the fight wouldn’t make it worthwhile. He can probably make more fighting a rematch with Devin Haney.
Garcia needs to think things through and understand how fans would perceive it if he chooses to fight “Grandpa” Pacquiao. It wouldn’t pay off in the long run, and it could destroy what’s left of his career if he loses or looks bad in winning.
Garcia-Pacquiao: Legacy or Cash?
Pacquiao says, “I don’t need money. I need history.” If that is the case, why is his adviser, Sean Gibbons, saying they want someone who can “move the needle” for his next fight, that can bring in the PPV buys? That suggests Manny might be tempted to fight Ryan Garcia next if it offers him the biggest payday.
If it wasn’t about money for Pacquiao, why did he stay retired for four years, and suddenly emerge when the fighter pay began to soar through the roof?