Manny Pacquiao Aligns Himself With Al Haymon, Eyes Big Fights

Via Boxing Scene - By Rick Reeno

In a move that could pave the way for a 2019 rematch with Floyd Mayweather, eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao has aligned himself with powerful adviser Al Haymon

Haymon, who runs Premier Boxing Champions, is the longtime adviser to Mayweather.

Multiple sources with knowledge of the details have confirmed to BoxingScene.com that Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs) has indeed signed on with Haymon.

Pacquiao, 39-years-old, was in action back in July when he scored a seventh round knockout over Lucas Matthysse to capture the WBA "regular" welterweight title.

Last year, Pacquiao became a promotional free agent after his contract expired with Top Rank - who guided the boxer's career for over a decade.

Earlier in the year, Pacquiao parted ways with head trainer Freddie Roach, and is now being trained by best friend Buboy Fernandez, who led the entire camp for the Matthysse fight.

And according to multiple sources the boxer has also cut ties with longtime business manager Michael Koncz.

Haymon is the adviser to nearly all of the big names at or around 147-pounds - including WBA "super" champion Keith Thurman, IBF champion Errol Spence, and WBC champion Shawn Porter.

Haymon also works with other potential Pacquiao opponents at 147, like Danny Garcia, Adrien Broner, Jamal James, Josesito Lopez, Andre Berto, Yordenis Ugas, John Molina, Victor Ortiz, Devon Alexander and several others.

Haymon, through his PBC banner, has no shortage of television dates - after finalizing content deals with both Showtime and FOX.

Pacquiao lost a twelve round unanimous decision to Mayweather, 41-years-old, in 2015. Their fight broke revenue records in the U.S. with over half a billion brought in. And it generated the highest-grossing pay-per-view in history, with 4.6 million purchases.

Last month, Mayweather and Pacquiao were spotted having a conversation at a concert in Tokyo - and soon after Mayweather announced his intention to resume his career for a Pacquiao rematch. Mayweather retired in August 2017 after stopping UFC champion Conor McGregor in the tenth round of a boxing match.

Showtime Sports head Stephen Espinoza had previously informed BoxingScene that Mayweather was very serious about the possibility of returning to the ring for Pacquiao.

“I think Floyd is very serious,” Espinoza told BoxingScene.com last week. “I think people doubted him because of the way it was announced and the timing of the announcement. I think that was just another added bonus for him. But having had discussions with him and discussions with his business people, he’s definitely serious.”