Trump Threatens Stadium Deal Over Washington Commanders Name 
U.S. Eases Iran Team Travel Restrictions Ahead of Seattle World Cup Match 
Trump’s U.S. Open Visit Delays Final, Fans Face Long Security Lines 
FIFA Defends Balogun Ban Suspension After Trump Praise Sparks World Cup Controversy 
Los Angeles Mayor Says White House Must Reassure Fans Ahead of FIFA World Cup 
Republican Lawmakers Urge National Guard Role for World Cup Drone Security 
FAA to Pause Reagan National Airport Flights for Freedom 250 IndyCar Race 
DOJ Launches Antitrust Investigation Into the NFL Over Broadcast Restrictions 
JD Vance to Lead U.S. Presidential Delegation at Milano Cortina Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony 
U.S. Plans $115 Million Counter-Drone Investment to Secure FIFA World Cup and Major National Events 
US Seizes Nearly 400 Illegal World Cup Streaming Domains in Global Anti-Piracy Crackdown 
NBA Returns to China with Alibaba Partnership and Historic Macau Games 
FIFA Faces Investigation Over 2026 World Cup Ticket Pricing and Seat Allocation Issues 
Marco Rubio Says U.S. Will Block IRGC-Linked Individuals From Iran World Cup Delegation 
Trump Draws Cheers at Ryder Cup as U.S. Trails Europe After Opening Day 
Trump Plans New Executive Order to Address Rising NIL Costs in College Sports 
Even the biggest sporting events in the world were not spared from the ravages of COVID-19. It is then worth asking if Manny Pacquiao’s intention to set foot in the ring in July would remain unchanged amid the ongoing global pandemic.
Will COVID-19 pandemic delay Manny Pacquiao’s next fight?
The current situation with regards to the COVID-19 outbreak suggests that it is highly inadvisable to conduct any mass gatherings around the world, especially in key cities. Major national and international leagues for football, baseball, the NBA regular season 2019-20, and other sports matches have already been canceled or postponed indefinitely. The Tokyo 2020 Olympics, supposedly happening on July 24 to Aug. 9, have been postponed until summer 2021. All these decisions were made as safety precautions amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is also important to note the local situation in Saudi Arabia, where the match would most likely take place as repeatedly mentioned by Pacquiao’s team. The total confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the country rose to 767 on Tuesday, per Gulf News. Pacquiao is also an elected Philippine senator. The country has been hit hard by the virus over the last few weeks with the total confirmed cases now at 552 as of late Tuesday.
An event with Pacquiao on the match card will most certainly invite spectators from all over the world. If the situation does not get any better in the coming months, it might be unwise to force a boxing match.
With all these factors considered, it is not far-fetched for Pacquiao’s camp to ultimately cancel or delay his next match. Since he has not yet decided on his next opponent and a venue has not been secure yet, this decision should not be difficult to make.
Manny Pacquiao eyes July event, Mikey Garcia or Errol Spence for next fight
The prospects for Pacquiao’s next match is already promising. The boxer previously confirmed he plans on fighting in July and hopes to start his training a couple of months before the match. When asked who he fancies on fighting next, he quickly mentioned two names: Errol Spence Jr. or Mikey Garcia.
