Philippines, 17 Mar 2026
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


PACQUIAO LOOKING AT A POSSIBLE FIGHT WITH 'CANELO' ALVAREZ


PhilBoxing.com




MACAU -- "Fighter of the Decade" Manny Pacquiao's adviser Michael Koncz says Pacquiao is looking at a possible fight
against the extremely popular young Mexican fighter Saul "Canelo" Alvarez next year provided they can come to terms on
an acceptable catchweight like they did when Pacquiao fought Miguel Cotto.

Koncz told the Manila Standard "it will be a substitute for a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr and will be the next biggest fight and may very well rival a Manny-Floyd fight."

He pointed out that Alvarez "is a good fighter, he's young and is the top Mexican fighter and has a big fan base in America" which would certainly make it a lucrative fight with huge pay-per-view numbers.

When Alvarez fought Floyd Mayweather Jr it was the Mexican who drew the crowds during the press tour in various cities and was
the fighter who fueled the PPV buys, not Mayweather although the undefeated pound for pound king won a comfortable unanimous twelve round majority decision with judge Cynthia Ross inexplicably scoring the fight a draw.

Koncz told us that he needs to get Manny's approval on the catchweight for "a fight we'll probably do next year" even as he stressed "we cannot go into the ring if there is no catchweight. It's too dangerous. We are not trying to get any advantage but just trying to protect the health of Manny."

He said "if Canelo is willing to come to a reasonable cathcweight then it a fight we can entertain."


The author (L) interviews Michael Koncz Thursday at the Venetian in Macau.

For the present, Koncz and Top Rank promoter Bob Arum are discussing Pacquiao's next fight scheduled for November 23 here in Macau but Koncz said Pacquiao would like to bring the fight date forward to sometime in September.

Koncz said Pacquiao and his family plan to take a vacation to Israel and England in the second week of June and a "final decision will have to wait until he returns from his family vacation."

During his Macau visit, Koncz said he would sit down with Arum but "there won't be any decision. I will go and report to Manny on Monday on he options." He said Arum "has made comments to the media about a fifth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez and Amir Khan Jr."

He said "in the past Arum has never pushed anybody on us. He has given us three or four options and then Manny makes the ultimate decision on what he wants to do."

The longtime adviser said he is "not so inclined to do a Marquez fight because I don't think the economics will be right. Marquez will expect close to $10 million and I don't think he should be paid more than $5 million. The fight, if it ever happens, should be in America for the pay-per-view."

Koncz reiterated what he told the Manila Standard some time ago and that is that random drug tests by VADA would be "absolutely necessary." He emphasized "I am not making any allegations but for Pacquiao's last two fights (against Brandon Rios and Timothy Bradley) we initiated the drug testing and we'll continue to do that no matter who the opponent is."


Click here to view a list of other articles written by Ronnie Nathanielsz.


Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Five stitches for Donaire’s cut
    By Joaquin Henson, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Roberto Gomez Training Camp Notes
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Esneth Domingo Trains at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles Ahead of His US Debut
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • Tatay Digong Birthday Run on March 28
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 12-0 prospect Marco Romero to headline This Friday in Independence, Missouri
    , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • 700 athletes on March 21-22 at UM
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 17 Mar 2026
  • United States Earns Four Gold Medals on Final Day of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Mexico wins 2 bronze medals at World Boxing Futures Cup in Bangkok
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Mon, 16 Mar 2026
  • Arnold Barboza Jr. Shines in Welterweight Debut, Defeats Kenneth Sims Jr. to Claim Wbo Global Welterweight Title
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • WBC top contender Canoy returns to Davao with Unanimous Decision Victory
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • John Randall Peralta: The Future of the Philippine Chess
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Alvin “Felemon” Dologuin Claims Win in Brico Santig’s Show in Thailand (PHOTOS)
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Donaire's Yokohama Showdown: Can our Filipino Flash Outshine the Rising Sun? (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    By Carlos Costa, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • USA Boxing Youth High Performance Team Wins Five of Eight Bouts on Day Six
    , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • Shai Gilgeous-Alexander surpasses Chamberlain's record of 127 consecutive NBA games with 20 points or more
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Sun, 15 Mar 2026
  • World-Ranked Light Heavyweight Najee Lopez Stops Mexican Terminator Manuel Gallego in Eight Classic Rounds in Main Event of ProBoxTV’s ‘The Contender Series’
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weigh-in from Highland Boxing in Bangkok, Thailand; Dologuin in Action (WEIGH-IN PHOTOS)
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Oval rules 35th CityHeights slugfest
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Sims vs. Barboza and Dickens vs. Cacace Headline Doubleheader on DAZN
    By Chris Carlson, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit sustains amazing run of victories at WPBA Pool in New York
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Weights Set in Anaheim: Barboza Jr. and Sims Jr. Ready for Welterweight War; Collazo Defends Titles
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rising Young Star Yoenis Tellez Takes on Top Contender Brian Mendoza in New Co-Main Event of PBC Pay-per-View Event Available on Prime Video Saturday, March 28
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Five USA Boxers Qualify for Medal Rounds on Day Six of 2026 World Boxing Futures Cup
    , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Rubilen Amit off to hot start in her WPBA debut
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Sat, 14 Mar 2026
  • Pavel Sosulin stops Victor Nagbe to remain unbeaten at IBA Pro 15 in Saint Petersburg
    , Fri, 13 Mar 2026




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2026 philboxing.com.