Josh Taylor open to exhibition with returning Manny Pacquiao, 46, having named his late DOG after boxing great

JOSH TAYLOR is open to sharing the ring with Manny Pacquiao – having named his late DOG after the boxing hero.

The Filipino great is on the verge of announcing a shock comeback aged 46 to fight WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios.

Josh Taylor with his his late dog Manny Taylor got his dog tattooed on him following Manny’s passing Manny Pacquiao is back in training for a comeback

Pacquiao was once a dream bout for Taylor – who named his pet Staffordshire Bull Terrier after PacMan.

Sadly, Taylor’s Staffie passed away in 2020 but he commemorated his beloved dog with a tattoo on his thigh.

And he would also be ready to honour Pacquiao in the form of an exhibition bout.

Taylor told The Herald: “Listen, I would absolutely give my left foot to share a ring with my hero. It would be absolutely amazing.

“But as a competitive fight, I don’t think I would want it. What’s in it really for me is a lose-lose.

“If I go in there and I win, I’ve beaten up a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao. Or if I go in there and I lose, I’ve lost to a 46-year-old Manny Pacquiao.

“So, it’s a lose-lose situation. But in terms of just going in there and doing an exhibition, just sharing the same ring with my hero, would be absolutely fantastic.”

Pacquiao retired in 2021 after defeat to Yordenis Ugas but following a failed presidential campaign in the Philippines he is returning to boxing.

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And he was controversially slotted fifth in the WBC rankings – despite not winning a fight for six years.

Taylor also now moves up to welterweight after dropping his 140lb WBO title to Teofimo Lopez in 2023 before losing his rematch to Jack Catterall last May.

The Scot faces former British champion Ekow Essuman, 36, up at 147lb on Saturday in Glasgow with the WBO European belt at stake.

Taylor said: “It’s good because it gives me a title, which then gives me a ranking on the world scene.

“But at this point in my career I’m just thinking one fight at a time. I made that mistake in the lead-up to the [first] Jack Catterall fight, looking at what was going to be after it.

“And I almost paid the price for it. So I’m not making that mistake again. I know there won’t be a shortage of options moving up and moving forward at welterweight.

“I’m only 34. I didn’t turn pro until I was 25, you know? So it’s not like I’ve been pro since I was 16 or 17 and been in loads and loads of wars. I’m still fresh.”

Queensberry Promotions Taylor steps up to welterweight to fight Ekow Essuman[/caption]