Manny Pacquiao 'in talks to fight Crawford in Abu Dhabi in June'

Manny Pacquiao ‘in talks to face pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford in Abu Dhabi this summer’ as boxing legend prepares to make his ring return after TWO YEARS out

  • Manny Pacquiao hasn’t fought since inflicting first loss of Keith Thurman’s career
  • The 42-year-old is in talks to face WBO champion Terence Crawford this summer
  • Their blockbuster welterweight clash is being targeted for June 5 in Abu Dhabi

Manny Pacquiao is in discussions to fight Terence Crawford in Abu Dhabi this summer after almost two years out of the ring.

Sportsmail reported last year that the Middle East was being lined up as the likeliest location to stage the fight and now ESPN claim both teams have settled on Abu Dhabi.  

Plans for Pacquiao to fight pound-for-pound star Crawford have been in place for the best part of 12 months, but a deal is still someway off being completed.

Manny Pacquiao is in talks for his first fight since beating Keith Thurman back in July 2019

‘The fight is not yet close to being finalised, but if it does take place, Abu Dhabi is the targeted location and June 5 is the targeted date,’ a Top Rank chief reportedly told ESPN.

Pacquiao, 42, has not fought since dethroning WBA title holder Keith Thurman back in July 2019 and was recently named as the governing body’s ‘champion in recess’ due to his inactivity. 

Undefeated WBO welterweight champion Crawford was last out in November, stopping Britain’s Kell Brook inside four rounds in brutal fashion.

The 33-year-old, who is widely regarded as one of the best fighters on the planet, recently ruled out a super-fight with welterweight rival Errol Spence with both sides unwilling to come to a compromise on the finances.

Meanwhile, there is fresh hope of Brook and long-time adversary Amir Khan finally meeting in a domestic blockbuster.

Pound-for-pound star Terence Crawford could face Pacquiao in Abu Dhabi on June 5 

Former world champion Khan revealed earlier this week he has told his promoter Eddie Hearn to ‘make the fight happen’.

Speaking to TalkSPORT, he said: ‘What’s the fight that everyone wants to see?

‘Everyone wants to see the Kell Brook fight. We’ve been talking about it for years and years.

‘Look, me and Kell are probably past our best, I’ll be honest. But at the same time, we’re both around the same age.

‘I think it’d be a good fight between us to see still who the number one is in Britain.’




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