Ryan Garcia was serious when he said he wanted to fight Manny Pacquiao.

In recent days, the need has arisen to further clarify that matter.

“Hey everybody, just want to make it real clear - my fight with Manny Pacquiao will not be an exhibition,” Garcia stated on his Instagram Live channel, addressing his base of more than 8.1 million subscribers. “It will be a real fight.

“Shooting for 12 rounds.”

The status of the currently discussed superfight was brought into question once it became realized that both sides were serious about proceeding with at least the idea of such a clash.

As previously reported by BoxingScene.com, Garcia first teased the possibility of a fight with Philippines’ Pacquaio (62-7-2, 39KOs) during fight week ahead of his interim lightweight title fight with Luke Campbell. Garcia (21-0, 18KOs) climbed off the canvas to knock out Campbell (20-4, 16KOs) in the 7th round of their Jan. 2nd DAZN headliner at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

With the win, Garcia won an interim belt which put him in line for a shot at unbeaten WBC lightweight Devin Haney (25-0, 15KOs. His attention instead shifted toward a blockbuster fight with Gervonta Davis (24-0, 23KOs), which turned out to just be smoke as he moved towards a showdown with Pacquaio.

Meanwhile, Pacquaio—who hasn’t fought since a 12-round welterweight title win over Keith Thurman in July 2019—was eyeing a sideshow superfight with UFC superstar Conor McGregor. Those plans were shot to sunshine when McGregor—0-1 as a pro boxer-suffered a 2nd round knockout versus Dustin Poirier atop UFC 257 just one week ago.

It was then revealed—and reported by BoxingScene—that talks were already underway for a potential catchweight fight with Garcia, who would move up in weight. Rumors swirled of the event serving as an eight-round exhibition, though such claims were shot down by the ubiquitous Sean ‘Viva’ Gibbons, who heads Pacquiao’s MP Promotions.

Garcia felt the need to pour water on such claims as well.

“It’s all on the line,” Garcia insists of the yet to be finalized bout. “Our records on the line. I just want to make that very clear for everybody out there.”
Pacquaio recently saw his WBA title reign unceremoniously come to a close, as he has been named “Champion in Recess” due to inactivity.

While talks have not yet crossed the line, the hope is to finalize in time to stage in the spring. Otherwise, dates in the fall will be targeted.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox