Pacquiao gets juicy offer

A mouthwatering offer to fight Mikey Garcia in Dubai is on the desk of Manny Pacquiao waiting to be signed.

Requesting anonymity, a Daily Tribune source said the amount “is not usually offered during the time of a pandemic,” making the numbers forwarded to Pacquiao truly attractive.

It was Paradigm Sports, the management company that has the Filipino eight-division champion under contract as a talent, which forwarded the offer to Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, who turned 42 last December, hasn’t been in the ring since July 2019 when he upset Keith Thurman in Las Vegas.

Blocking Paradigm’s offer is another proposal, a showdown with the undefeated American Terence Crawford, courtesy of Top Rank’s Bob Arum with Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates’ second largest city, as site.

The Filipino legend told this paper last February that he has an asking price of $40 million to face the dangerous Crawford, who reigns as the World Boxing Organization welterweight king.

On paper, while the Garcia fight dangles less money, it appears to be the wise choice given that the Mexican-American puncher doesn’t pose much of a threat as Crawford or even Errol Spence, another marquee name in the 147-pound division.

Crawford is nine years younger than Pacquiao, the fresher and more active boxer, having fought the last time in November 2020.

Pacquiao, who was stripped off the World Boxing Association crown early this year, is interested in going after Crawford because he has a belt.

Garcia, though, a multi-division titleholder, doesn’t own one at the moment.

Still, the sky-high amount Pacquiao wants could be a game-changer in pursuit of a Crawford clash.

Tim Bradley, who fought Pacquiao thrice, feels there is not enough money available in the market right now, a sentiment the Tribune source is insisting why the Dubai offer to face Garcia is the logical choice.

Paradigm is an outfit owned by Audie Attar, who manages mixed martial arts idol Conor McGregor.

Al Haymon, whose Premier Boxing Champions has yet to make a formal offer, staged the last ring appearance of Pacquiao.

Lawyer Tom Falgui, who runs Pacquiao’s boxing affairs, acknowledged recently that they are studying “offers from all sides.”

“We will know by the second week of April (if we have a deal or not),” Falgui said.