Eddie Hearn is looking to add any and all big free agents out there in boxing, including one Manny Pacquiao.
The Matchroom Boxing promoter spoke to Sporting News and revealed that he has been talking with Pacquiao, the current WBA "regular" welterweight champion, about the possibility of having him fight on the DAZN platform.
"I think Manny Pacquiao is a huge name. He’s undoubtedly towards the backend of his career, but still a huge name. We’d like him on DAZN. We’re talking with him. We’re talking with Manny Pacquiao. Whether it goes anywhere, we’ll see. But, we’re certainly interested to continue those talks," Hearn said.
Hearn also added that he understands a big name like Pacquiao means paying a lot of money just to sign him and that Pacquiao's priorities as a boxer may include fighting outside of the United States where Hearn's partnership with DAZN is solely based in. Pacquiao's last two fights saw fight in Australia where he lost his WBO welterweight belt to Jeff Horn last year and more recently, in Malaysia where he knocked out Lucas Matthysse to win the WBA title, retiring the Argentine boxer.
Despite this, Hearn believes that he has fighters on his roster who could provide the kind of fights Pacquiao is looking for. Some of the names Hearn mentioned include Kell Brook, Jessie Bargas and Amir Khan, whom Pacquiao wanted to fight in the United Arab Emirates in 2017 before the fight fell through.
Since winning the WBA "regular" welterweight title, Pacquiao stated on social media that he is a free agent and able to sign with any promoter, meaning he is no longer exclusive to Bob Arum and Top Rank Boxing.
