By Joe Brophy and Stuart Atkins
MANNY PACQUIAO has squashed any rumours of retirement by revealing he is set to return to the ring fight P4P star Keith Thurman this summer.
The 40-year-old will head to Las Vegas to take on a fighter ten years his junior for the WBA super welterweight championship on July 20.
The Filipino hasn’t fought since January when he scored an impressive victory over Adrien Broner via unanimous decision to retain his WBA welterweight title.
Pacquiao had teased a rematch with Floyd Mayweather after their enthralling 2015 bout, but he now looks keen on unifying his WBA secondary title against Thurman.
Pacman released a mock-up poster for the 71st fight of his career with the 30-year-old on Instagram alongside the caption: “The summer just got a little hotter!”
Thurman, coming off a two-year layoff, retained a perfect record of 29 wins from 29 bouts after edging past Josesito Lopez via a unanimous decision earlier this year.
He’s not the young Manny Pacquiao that he once was but he still is a great, world-class fighter
Keith Thurman
After the sluggish win, the American was keen to hype up a bout with former world champion in what will be the sixth time he will have defended his WBA title.
Speaking to ESPN, he said: “Manny Pacquiao is not going to be here for the years to come. Just fighting a legend, I just feel like the clock is ticking.
“Later this year if that fight presents itself, I would definitely be open for negotiations and I would love an opportunity to fight a legend.
“He’s not the young Manny Pacquiao that he once was but he still is a great, world-class fighter. If we get that fight, we’d be happy to do it for ourselves and the fans.”
Pacquiao’s win over controversial American Broner in January took his record to 61-7-2 with 39 knockouts.
Ahead of the fight earlier this year, the veteran said: “Age is just a number. What matters is how you prepare and that you’re working hard.”
A venue is yet to be announced but the Event is likely to take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas or the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Article courtesy of Joe Brophy, Stuart Atkins & The Sun
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