Manny Pacquiao keeps options open; Loma denies talks on fight

MANILA, Philippines — Everything is in the works regarding Manny Pacquiao’s next fight, some sort of a comeback following a shocking loss to Jeff Horn in July last year.

“We’re still working on it. Nothing is final,” his adviser, Mike Koncz, told The STAR.

Pacquiao is open to any and all possibilities toward his next fight, which his American promoter, Bob Arum, is trying to set either on April 14 or April 21.

A few names have been mentioned the past few days, including Mike Alvarado, Amir Khan and pound-for-pound king Vasyl Lomachenko.

Arum is looking at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas or Madison Square Garden in New York, depending on the availability of either or both venues.

Pacquiao may fight as undercard or co-headliner of the welterweight clash between Horn and Terence Crawford in April.

Arum wants Pacquiao to face the winner between Horn and Crawford. But first, the eight-division champion must look good in April.

But Lomachenko, a world champion at featherweight and super-featherweight, is perhaps not the type of fighter that will make Pacquiao look good. 

Pacquiao said negotiations are on with the Lomachenko camp, the same way he said talks were on with UFC king Conor McGregor last November.

Lomachenko’s manager, Egis Klimas, was quoted as saying yesterday there’s nothing behind the reports.

“No, it’s not true,” the Lithuanian said.

Meanwhile, there will be no potential “passing of the torch” between Pacquiao and Lomachenko.

This after Lomachenko’s manager said their camp has no interest in a showdown with Pacquiao, citing the Filipino icon’s inactivity.

“He (Pacquiao) has no torch,” the manager tweeted, adding they would prefer facing other “active” champions in the 130-pound division.

“Manny is legendary and very respectful fighter but he is nonactive, he is done and Loma won’t take advantage of it just beating a legend to get him name. We have better route fighting active champions in our weight class. Stay tune you will see and say Wow,” he continued. – Dino Maragay