WBA welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao believes that he can fight twice in 2021.

The eight division titleholder, who turns 42-years-old on December 17, has been inactive since July of 2019, when he captured the WBA title with a twelve round split decision win over unbeaten Keith Thurman at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

There was talk of Pacquiao returning in the first half of 2020 - but the coronavirus pandemic made that scenario an impossibility.

Because of his duties as a senator in the Philippines, Pacquiao is not able to fight in the first quarter of 2021.

He views an April date as being more likely, with a possible second fight taking place in September.

“We still have sessions in March so there’s no way I am going to fight during that time,” Pacquiao told Daily Tribune.

“I think I can do two [fights] next year."

Choi Garcia, one of Pacquiao's aides, told the paper that he does not expect the boxer to fight without fans in attendance.

“I just don’t see him fighting without any crowd involvement,” Garcia said. “He draws energy from the crowd. No one knows when his next fight will be."

Pacquiao has no shortage of potential high profile opponents. In the last few weeks, the boxer has been targeted by WBO welterweight champion Terence Crawford, IBF/WBC welterweight champion Errol Spence, four division champion Mikey Garcia - and even UFC superstar Conor McGregor.

Spence are Garcia, at the moment, appear to be the two most likely frontrunners to get the fighting senator in the ring. There is also the outside chance that Pacquiao decides to retire from the sport and dedicates himself to politics on a full-time basis.