Manny Pacquiao will reportedly make his return to the United State this January to defend his secondary welterweight world title against Adrien Broner. According to ESPN's Dan Rafael, Pacquiao has not boxed in the U.S. since 2016 because of an eight-figure debt to the IRS.
Pacquiao (60-7-2, 39 KOs), who turns 40 on December 17, is eyeing a January 12 or 19 fight in Las Vegas, which could set up a rematch against Floyd Mayweather in the Spring of 2019.
"Although it was not publicized or formally announced, Pacquiao signed about two weeks ago with adviser Al Haymon, the Premier Boxing Champions founder who controls several name welterweights, including Broner as well as world titleholders Errol Spence Jr., Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman."
"Haymon also works with Floyd Mayweather and should Pacquiao defeat Broner, it would set him up for a potential spring rematch with Mayweather."
Pacquiao has gone 3-1 since losing to Mayweather in 2015, with his only loss being a controversial defeat to Jeff Horn. His last fight in the U.S. was in November of 2016, when he won a welterweight world title from Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas via decision. Broner (33-3-1, 24 KOs), 29, is 0-1-1 in his past two fights, including a decision loss to Mikey Garcia in July 2017 and a draw with Vargas in April.
As for Pacquiao vs Mayweather II -- TMZ Sports recently caught up with Stephen Espinoza, the President of Programming for Showtime Sports, who revealed that Mayweather isn't just talking about coming out of retirement, he is for real. "Having spoken to Floyd, I know he's deadly serious about it. He's very, very serious about wanting the fight," says Espinoza.
