CEBU, Philippines — Former two-division world champion Carl “The Jackal” Frampon describes the undefeated Ryan Garcia (21-0, 18KOs) as a brave fighter for calling out Manny Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39KOs) but forewarned that a ring clash against the legendary eight-division world champion is “too risky” for the rising lightweight star.
Since stopping Luke Campbell in the seventh round to win the interim WBC lighweight title a month ago, Garcia has been very vocal about his desire to face next his childhood idol Pacquiao.
So serious on his intent that Garcia is willing to move up in two weight classes just to battle Pacquiao in what he considers a ‘dream fight’.
But Garcia must be careful what he wished for.
For Frampton, who once held court in the WBA and IBF super bantamweight and WBA featherweight divisions, going up against one of the greatest boxers of all time poses a huge risk for the 22-year-old Garcia, Pacquiao’s 20 years junior.
Frampton even sees Garcia getting knocked out by Pacquiao should the match happen.
“This is massive. If this fight gets made, you have to give Ryan Garcia credit, it’s a brave fight to take because Manny Pacquiao, although he’s not the fighter he once was, if Luke Campbell can drop Ryan Garcia, [then] Manny Pacquiao can knock him out. This is a risky fight,” stated Frampton on his Youtube channel.
Nothing is definite though as of the moment.
Golden Boy Promotions, the promoter of Garcia, has publicly declared last week through its president Eric Gomez that the fight is not going to happen.
However, Garcia’s lawyer/adviser Guadalupe Valencia insists that the door remains open for the Pacquiao-Garcia duel to materialize.
It’s a position backed up by MP Promotions President Sean Gibbons, who said that negotiations are still taking place.
“They are ongoing and hopefully things will work out,” Gibbons told boxingscene.com.