Mikey Garcia has called out Manny Pacquiao after registering his first victory at welterweight with a unanimous decision against Jessie Vargas on Sunday.
The American, fighting for the second time at 147 pounds, rebounded from last year's comprehensive defeat to Errol Spence Jr by triumphing 116-111, 116-111, 114-113 in Texas. Garcia scored a knockdown in the fifth round.
A more natural fit at lightweight, the four-division champion said he would stay at 147, opening the possibility of another clash with Spence Jr, or a first meeting with Pacquiao.
Reiterating a long-held stance, Garcia says current WBA champion Pacquiao is his preferred choice. Pacquiao last fought in July, when he defeated the previously unbeaten Keith Thurman on points in Las Vegas.
"I think I have great options," Garcia said. "I'm ready to get back in with the best. I would love to fight against Manny Pacquiao, or a rematch with Errol Spence. I'm better now at this weight class. I want to continue to campaign at 147 and seek a title in a fifth division."
Garcia suffered the first defeat of his career in March last year, when IBF welterweight champion Spence Jr dominated him throughout their clash in Texas to win comfortably on points.
Garcia (40-1, 30 KOs) has been rumoured to fight Pacquiao (62-7-2, 39 KOs) in the past, but the bout never materialised. Now a sitting senator in the Philippines, Pacquiao remains the only eight-division world champion in boxing history.
Last week, promoter Eddie Hearn said he was exploring the possibility of bringing Pacquiao-Garcia to Saudi Arabia this summer. Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing has a deal with DAZN, a UK-based streaming service, and organised December’s historic clash in the Kingdom between Anthony Joshua and Any Ruiz Jr.
Speaking to ESPN MMA before Garcia-Vargas, Hearn said: “All I’m concerned about is to try and make a fight between Manny Pacquiao and a top welterweight out there. Mikey Garcia has made it quite clear if he comes through on Saturday night he would like to fight Manny Pacquiao next.
"I’ve had a number of conversations with [Paradigm Sports Management head] Audie [Attar] and we would definitely like to make a play for Manny Pacquiao to fight on DAZN in Saudi Arabia.
“We now have a partnership with Skills Challenge Entertainment, which is our partners that we staged the Saudi fight with Andy Ruiz and Anthony Joshua to complete for a number of shows each year.
“The next one is planned for early July, and Manny Pacquiao is a fighter that they would love to have onboard to box in Saudi Arabia. One of the problems with Manny Pacquiao is it seems there are 162 people claiming to represent him right now.”
