Pacquiao not retiring, eyes Lomachenko fight | ABS-CBN

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Pacquiao not retiring, eyes Lomachenko fight

Pacquiao not retiring, eyes Lomachenko fight

ABS-CBN News

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Updated Jan 17, 2018 01:14 PM PHT

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8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao and pound-for-pound king Vasyl Lomachenko. File/Composite

MANILA, Philippines – (UPDATED) Senator and former eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has no plans of retiring just yet.

Instead, the "Pacman" is eyeing a showdown with one of the most dangerous fighters in the world right now – pound-for-pound king Vasyl Lomachenko of Ukraine.

"I'm not retired yet," Pacquiao told host Karen Davila on ANC's "Headstart" Wednesday morning. "Nami-miss ko 'yung boxing eh."

Pacquiao lost his most recent fight in controversial fashion, dropping a unanimous decision to Jeff Horn in Australia last July 2017 despite appearing to dominate most of the fight.

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That defeat put Pacquiao's boxing record at 59 wins, seven losses, and two draws. However, the "Pacman" insists he is not too worried that his record will be tarnished.

"Hindi naman," he said. "I'm still okay."

His camp is currently pursuing a fight against Lomachenko, the reigning super featherweight champion. Pacquiao is hoping that the fight will be held in April, so he can train while Congress is taking a break.

"Ang pangako ko sa mga tao, hindi ma-apektuhan ang trabaho ko. 'Yung April, magandang idea dahil off kami ng March 23 to May 13. So April, wala kaming trabaho," he said.

Pacquiao assured that three months of training is "more than enough" to prepare for Lomachenko, who has compiled a 10-1 record in his young professional career and has made his last four opponents quit in the midst of their fights.

A report from the Las Vegas Review Journal bared that Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum wants Pacquiao to fight in the same April 21 fight card that will feature a welterweight showdown between Horn and Terrence Crawford in Las Vegas.

"Pacquiao seems like he wants to come back, so we’re trying to get that finalized," said Arum.

One sticking point that has kept the Pacquiao-Lomachenko bout from being finalized is the weight.

A Boxing Scene report in 2016 earlier quoted Lomachenko as saying that he would rather take the fight at 135 pounds or at the lightweight division.

Last July 2017, Lomachenko said he believes Pacquiao won the fight against Jeff Horn but said the Filipino champion should hang up his gloves.

"I think he needs to finish his career. He’s a legend. He has a very great career. He needs to finish, he needs to rest because now I think he is old. He lose his speed, he lose his all physical condition he lost. It’s age,” he said.

For more sports coverage, visit the ABS-CBN Sports website.

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