One of the world’s biggest promoters gives his take on a subject in boxing that is causing a lot of talk at the moment.
Manny Pacquiao is a boxing legend. That is undeniable.
He might be fighting for a world title shot against Mario Barrios before the end of the year. Later this month he first boxes in RIZIN in a three rounder to get the cob webs off in Japan.
Speaking to a group of reporters in an open media scrum Hearn said of the whole Pacquiao situation in 2024:
“It’s a very contentious subject. People moaning about Manny Pacquiao. I think Manny Pacquiao is still good enough to beat most fighters in the top twenty at 147lbs. He’s clearly not the fighter that he once was. You’re not going to be at that age. My problem is that he has been inactive for a long time. Like we were talking about boxing him with Conor Benn and every month, three months and six months that passes, you do get a lot older. So I guess there’s two questions. One is should he be fighting again? And if he’s good enough to beat everybody outside of the top twenty then why not? But should he be fighting for the world title? I guess that’s another question.”
Hearn added:
“In the commercial world of boxing the answer is yeah probably. In the ratings world and the activity world, the answer is probably not. I think when you’ve achieved what he’s achieved, you have the right to do things a little differently to others. With all due respect, Barrios is not Boots and Barrios is not Crawford.”
Eddie Hearn is the head of Matchroom Sport and Matchroom Boxing. One of the biggest promoters in the world at this time.
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His opinion carries weight and he knows what he’s talking about. If Hearn had the chance to sign Pacquiao or stage one of his fights, he would, and, nearly did.
Pacquiao like most star boxers these days has his own company MP. Promotions.
