Joshua James Wiliams Taylor vs. Emmanuel Dapidran Pacquiao

Your eyes aren't deceiving you. Per none other than Bob Arum, talks are underway to have TTT's comeback match (after losing his Ring Magazine lineal / TBRB / WBO light welterweight throne against Teófimo Andrés López Rivera in June) be against the retired Filipino eight division champion. Real, sanctioned fight, not exhibition.

It has previously been expected that a rematch with Jack Catterall would be next up for the Scotsman in January or February, but that appears to have been shelved for now in favor of Pacquiao. Arum says he wants Taylor in the ring no matter whom the opponent by April, with late February being targeted as the probable landing strip.

Each is officially coming off a professional loss - Taylor at the hands of López and Pacquiao dropping a UD to Yordenis Ugás in August of 2021. Pacquiao fought this past spring in an exhibition bout with a South Korean martial arts Youtuber.

Taylor has 12cm of height and 7cm of reach on Pacquiao, and is a dozen years his junior. The older southpaw, a future shoe-in first-ballot Hall of Famer whose induction will be further delayed by this activity, has roughly quadruple the amount of pro experience (in both contests and rounds boxed).

 

No word yet on potential venue or whether this would be contracted at welter or light welter.

 

Win lose or draw this is a MUCH worthier legacy-honoring swansong for Pac (in terms of entertainment value) than a 12-round slog with a spoiler like Ugás.

 

Anybody who thinks Serge is kidding about that - he isn't.

Josh named his pooch Pac-Man, and said it was in honor of the Pinoy legend.

 

Do you condone fighting TTT or would you caution that it's unwise at this stage?

 

What about this fight on paper says boring to you???

 

Taylor vs. Prograis was a FOTY contender, and even on his worst day TTT is a massive step up from Ugás in watchability.