April 3, 2019 As Floyd visits, Pacquiao targets Thurman, Garcia
While Floyd Mayweather Jr. is busy vacationing in the Philippines, his rival Manny Pacquiao is reportedly busy negotiating for his next fight.
RING Magazine's Mike Coppinger said in a Twitter post that the 8-division champion is already in talks with WBA "super" welterweight champion Kieth Thurman for a title tiff in July.
"SOURCES: Manny Pacquiao and Keith Thurman are in advanced talks for a pay-perview welterweight title showdown that's being targeted for July 13. No deal yet but it's expected to be completed #boxing," said Coppinger.
Thurman has been pursuing a title bout against Pacquiao since the Filipino champ successfully defended his "regular" WBA welterweight title against Adrien Broner in January.
Meanwhile, former champion Danny Garcia is also in the mix for Pacquiao's possible next foes.
“It's either Garcia or Thurman,” international matchmaker Sean Gibbons told Spin.
Both Thurman and Garcia fight under Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions stable.
Mayweather is currently in the Philippines. He visited Boracay over the weekend and was introduced as a Belo endorser on Tuesday.
Mayweather defeated Pacquiao when they fought in May 2015, in what became the most lucrative bout in the history of the sports.
There were rumors of a rematch between Mayweather and Pacquiao, but the undefeated American doesn't seem inclined to fight the Filipino again.
"I'm very, very thankful," the controversial American boxer was previously quoted as saying. "Manny Pacquiao is a true champion, a future Hall of Famer, a hell of a fighter. I wish him nothing but the best."