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Manny Pacquiao could come out of retirement and fight for world title at age 45

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Legendary Manny Pacquiao was supported by WBC return to the boxing ring – almost four years after hanging up his gloves. The retired icon’s last fight came in 2021, when he lost to Yordenis Ugas via unanimous decision, just the eighth defeat of his illustrious career on the boards.

WITH WBC The welterweight world title is currently vacant, and there has been speculation that the 45-year-old could face Mario Barrios for the belt. This comes after Terence Crawford moved up to 154 pounds, with Pacquiao was considered as a potential next opponent for “El Azteca”.

The Filipino’s legacy is already certain in the combat sports community, having won world titles in eight weight classes, including flyweight, featherweight, lightweight and welterweight during his career. He is also the only boxer in history to hold world titles in four separate decades.

Following his retirement from the ring, there have been repeated rumors that he would consider returning to action, with Pacquiao previously confirming that talks are underway to return to fighting for a world title. Now, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has backed a potential return, saying Sky Sports: “Manny Pacquiao is timeless. He is a legend.”

“We have a great precedent for former champions coming back, assuming they pass all the medicals,” he continued, leaving the door open. “As a former champion and a legend, he has the opportunity to fight for the WBC championship.

“I really like this idea. I think Manny Pacquiao He can beat any fighter or be competitive with any fighter today. But to come back to the WBC more than two decades after winning his first world championship, which was the WBC flyweight title, and then move up to welterweight in 2024 would be sensational.”

As for Pacquiao, he explained last month that no agreement had been reached with Barrios’ team for the fight, but confirmed that talks were ongoing. He said: “We are still in the process of negotiating and talking about it. The fight has not materialized yet. But the negotiations are ongoing.”

Despite the passing of the years, the Filipino believes he has retained enough of the vitality that characterized his performances at the peak of his boxing career. In fact, “Pac Man“he posited that his nearly half-decade absence from the game can only prove positive if he wants to return.

Reflecting on his previous victory over Keith Thurman, he vowed to push the boundaries in any hypothetical comeback, saying, “At 40, I made history when I beat Keith Thurman, and I feel like at 45, I still have a lot of ground to cover in my game because I haven’t gotten hit too many times in the last few years. I want to make history.”

Meanwhile, Barrios’ potential opponent seems open to a confrontation with the world-famous fighter, as he spoke with the utmost respect for his potential rival. He added: “I’m very excited to have this fight.

“Manny Pacquiao is a future Hall of Famer, a legend and someone I grew up admiring. It would be an honor and a dream come true to share the ring with him.”

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UK Boxing

Tyson Fury sends an ominous warning to Oleksandr Usyk

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Tyson Fury has promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Tyson Fury vowed to hurt Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday's rematch. Photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry
Tyson Fury vowed to hurt Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday’s rematch. Photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry

Tyson Fury vowed to “seriously hurt” him in Saturday’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury is for revenge first defeat his professional career when he meets Usyk at the Kingdom Arena in Riyad, seven months after he was dropped by split decision at the same venue.

“The Gypsy King” has put in a solemn performance throughout the build-up and continued that attitude during Wednesday’s public training session.

The 36-year-old put on his gloves, greeted the audience and took off his gloves without landing a single blow on his pads.

The Briton, who is generally in a cheerful mood, revealed little in the interview DAZN then, but sent his rival a dire warning.

Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“A lot of pain.

“Smash and destroy.

“A lot of pain, solemn hurt.”

Fury, who is aiming to become a three-time world heavyweight champion, held a training camp in Malta ahead of the rematch and earlier this week claimed he had not had contact with his wife Paris for three months.

Usyk secured the undisputed heavyweight title in May but vacated the IBF belt to secure a rematch, while Daniel Dubois, who arrived in Riyadh earlier this week, was elevated to full champion after winning the interim title.

If the fighter from Morecambe exacts revenge, according to Fury’s British promoter, Frank Warren, a third fight with the Ukrainian has already been contracted.

However, Fury promised a victory so comprehensive that the 37-year-old would never fight again.

“I will definitely make him feel 37 years vintage,” Fury said Queensberry Promotions.

– He’ll be there with the Gypsy King, not whoever I was last time.

“I feel very good and I can’t wait for Saturday’s fight.

Usyk performed brilliantly, defeating Fury in the first fight. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Usyk performed brilliantly, defeating Fury in the first fight. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“I’m going to end him, end his career.

“You will never hear from Oleksandr Usyk again after this.”

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UK Boxing

Referee Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk has always played a controversial role

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Roberto Ramirez Jnr has been appointed referee for the highly anticipated rematch between Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk, and his past has been controversial.

The two heavyweight titans will clash again next weekend, with the “Gypsy King” looking to settle the score following his first professional loss to the Ukrainian in May in Riyad, Saudi Arabia.

However, main center Ramirez Jnr, who will be overseeing the fight, has been embroiled in controversy before. Last year he officiated Chantelle Cameron’s high-profile rematch with Katie Taylor, in which Cameron became the first to defeat the Irish star before losing in the next fight. After the match, Cameron’s coach Jamie Moore criticized Ramirez Jnr, blaming him for Cameron’s defeat.

“She’s clearly devastated, you can imagine,” Moore revealed to BBC 5 Live Boxing. “She just feels like this whole scenario was set up for her to lose. In a way, we were determined to prove everyone wrong, just like we did last time. But last time she got away with it. I’m not saying, “First of all, I just want to say that from what I watched, it was a close fight that could have gone either way.”

“We were denied a knockdown in the first round, which should have happened. The knockdown is 100% justified. Before the fight, I was begging the referee in the locker room, please, she got away with it last time, holding tight. My athlete’s best work is close. Please don’t let her hold you like last time. And he let her do worse this time than last time. After securing victory, brawler Bray became the undisputed world champion in two weight classes.

Cameron herself later expressed doubts about the referee’s choice for their rematch with Taylor, speaking to BBC Radio Northampton: ‘It wasn’t just me and Katie in that ring. If that were the case, I would have accepted defeat and said I had won the better women that night. I had everything against me. The referee that night… it was such a high level fight, why would you hire a referee no one had heard of. It’s not my job, it’s my job, it’s my job to fight, don’t look at who’s refereeing, I’m just frustrated – if I could go back, I’d make sure everything was taken into account.

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UK Boxing

Eddie Hearn turns heads in Oleksandr Usyk vs. Tyson Fury 2 pick

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Tyson Fury has promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday Photo Credit: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Eddie Hearn has picked Tyson Fury to win his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after initially siding with the Ukrainian team. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing/Top Rank
Eddie Hearn has picked Tyson Fury to win his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after initially siding with the Ukrainian team. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing/Top Rank

Eddie Hearn has changed his mind about the outcome of Saturday’s rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury.

Hearn will be a guest pundit on Riyad’s DAZN broadcast as Fury looks to exact revenge on Usyk, seven months after losing his undefeated record to the Ukrainian in the same arena via split decision.

The Matchroom boss initially sided with Usyk and secured his second victory in a row over “The Gypsy King”.

“I think it’s demanding for anyone to pick Tyson Fury to win the fight with balance,” Hearn said. talkSPORT.

“I think it will be an incredibly close fight. I think the last one was too.

Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank
Tyson Fury promised to send Oleksandr Usyk into retirement on Saturday. Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

“But I think given what we saw from Usyk in the first fight, his ability to absorb information, I think he’s very complex to put.

“I want Fury to win, I think he can win.

“I think he will have to do something extraordinary that we have seen before.

“But I think with common sense it is very complex not to choose Oleksandr Usyk in this fight.”

Fury took a disastrous ninth round to a eternal eight count before reaching the final bell and earlier this week vowed to end the 37-year-old’s career, although his promoter Frank Warren insists a third fight will be booked if he emerges victorious.

However, Hearn has now changed his mind and is backing his compatriot to seek revenge for the only loss of his professional career.

“I expect another really close fight on Saturday,” said the 45-year-old Boxing in the match room.

“I choose Tyson Fury for many reasons.

“I just have a sneaky feeling.”

Hearn will be present on the DAZN broadcast of the Usyk vs Fury 2 match. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing
Hearn will be present on the DAZN broadcast of the Usyk vs Fury 2 match. Photo: Mark Robinson Matchroom Boxing

“You start focusing on your pre-fight preparations.

“I saw these things yesterday [at the grand arrivals].

“I thought he looked very relaxed.

“Usyk talks really cocky, really different.

“I don’t know if it’s good or bad, but I’m going with Tyson Fury and Tyson Fury on points.”

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