The Filipino legend ended his career in the ring back in 2021 but has been training in the gym ahead of a rumoured clash with the UFC star, although his promoter Sean Gibbons says a contest needs to happen sooner rather than later as the boxing icon plans to run for political office in his home country again later this year.

Gibbons told Boxing Scene: "It was always really a great dream for him and Conor McGregor, but Conor’s got so much UFC business or whatever.

"Manny’s got about nine months left because he’s going to run for office again, so he’s still actively looking for something."

A bout between Pacquiao and embattled British fighter Conor Benn had also been mooted but appears unlikely at the moment as the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBoC) won an appeal against the decision to lift his suspension from the sport after he failed doping tests.

Gibbons said: "You know, that fight was more or less in place to happen and, unfortunately, he lost the appeal.

"We got bad luck. You saw the hype, the build-up, everybody was excited, all sides wanted to do it, but unfortunately losing the appeal cost the fight.

"Conor Benn, they said he comes off suspension in September, there’s still an opportunity to do that. I always thought Kell Brook would have been fun.

"Conor Benn was the ideal fight because it would have been competitive."