Pacquiao camp eyes Philippines for next fight

Manny Pacquiao is the pride of the Philippines, but the sitting senator and eight-division world champion has not fought in his home country since 2006.

That was when Pacquiao was a junior lightweight -- four divisions ago -- and coming off a 10th-round knockout victory over Erik Morales in their rematch.

On that day in the outskirts of Manila, Pacquiao won a wide decision over Oscar Larios. Since then, Pacquiao has fought 20 times, 18 times in the United States in some of the biggest fights in boxing history, and twice in Macau, China.

On Saturday night, live on ESPN and ESPN Deportes beginning at 9 ET -- Sunday morning in Australia -- Pacquiao will defend the welterweight world title he took from Jessie Vargas in November for the first time when he meets Jeff Horn before an expected crowd of some 55,000 at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Horn's hometown.

Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KOs) is a massive favorite to beat Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs), 29, who was a 2012 Australian Olympian but has a thin résumé, counting wins against over-the-hill former contenders Randall Bailey and Ali Funeka as his only notable victories.