MANILA, Philippines – The much-awaited fight up the ring early next year between Mexican-American boxer Mikey Garcia and multi-titled fighter Senator Manny Pacquiao is getting clearer as the former confided to Fighthype he “feels he is close to getting a fight with Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.”

The former 4-division champion and brother of boxing trainer Robert Garcia said negotiations have been going on and if things do not go south, they might face each other first quarter of 020.

Garcia through Fighthype: “We’ve been discussing a fight against Manny Pacquiao for a long time now, and it seems like it’s very close and it can actually happen.”

Last month, an insider at Manny Pacquiao’s camp in the United States, first confirmed negotiations between the two parties, of which CNS ran a story.

But Garcia cautioned his fans the deal has yet to be finalized until after the Senator, who recently earned a degree in political science at Makati University, gets untangled with his very hectic schedule.

“Nothing is secure. He has some obligations right now. He’s still busy with that, but the last thing I heard, he’s interested in fighting in the early part of the summer. There’s still no opponent secured. That’s why I want to jump in and try and get that fight,” Garcia told Fighthype.

Another opponent Pacquiao’s camp is considering to fight up the ring is no other than British boxer Amir Khan and this is the reason why talks on Pacquiao fighting in the Middle East floated but Garcia said he prefers to have it in Las Vegas where most boxing fans are located.

“Let’s be honest, we have most of our fans here. Not everyone is going to be able to make the trip out to Saudi Arabia or some exotic location – but I’m open to fighting anywhere else as well,” Garcia said.

Garcia last fought in March when he lost to IBF welterweight champion Errol Spence while Pacquiao is coming off a decisive win over Adrien Broner in January before scoring a 12-round decision over Keith Thurman in July to claim the WBA “super” welterweight title. (IAMIGO/CNS)