It’s been an interesting year for boxing callouts, but the prospect of Manny Pacquiao taking on Gennady Golovkin seems far-fetched even within that context.
Even so, that hasn’t stopped promoter Bob Arum suggesting the Filipino veteran could look for a meeting with the world middleweight champion if he is able to return to form in November’s bout with Jessie Vargas.
Pacquiao is poised to take on Vargas in a welterweight title bout on November 5, in his first outing since coming out of retirement, and it’s a tall order for him to ‘look like the old Manny’ – one of the prerequisites for Arum looking at a pairing with GGG.
“Manny may look so good in this fight and may have such senatorial presence in the fight that we may be looking for Golovkin next,” Arum is quoted as saying by BoxingNewsOnline.
“If he doesn’t vote right in the senate,” he continued. “I think some of his constituents may be urging him to fight Golovkin.”
Leigh Dawney/Getty Images
So, as you can see, it’s far from a definitive suggestion that Pacquiao-Golovkin is anywhere near being set up, and has been seen by some as Arum simply reminding people that, Manny’s out of retirement and he’s got this fight coming up in just over a week.
That’s the way a few fight fans saw it too, and who can blame them?
These rumours of a GGG v Pacquiao possibility is as believable as a Joshua v Klitschko possibility. #Boxing pic.twitter.com/tNxboOaix0
— Gary William® (@_GaryWilliam_) October 24, 2016
😂😂😂😂 Pacquiao wouldn't fight Brook, let alone Golovkin. #boxing https://t.co/nNt4Tzo0eK
— Callum (@BCTHEGRANDSLAM) October 26, 2016
https://twitter.com/RubenSanche825/status/791175056412073984
Still, the mere mention of a potential bout has seen some use the opportunity to point out that there would only be one winner.
It's hard to say this but pacquiao will be destroyed by GGG. Pacman's past his prime already. And GGG's on top of the world.
— Cruisin (@busiestslacker) October 26, 2016
Golovkin made light work of Kell Brook last time out, with the Englishman’s corner throwing in the towel in the fifth.
The undefeated Kazakh fighter has won 33 of his 36 professional fights by knockout, and many are hopeful his long-awaited matchup with Canelo Álvarez ends up coming to fruition in 2016.
A meeting with Pacquiao? That feels a little less likely.
