Pacquiao’s return fight targeted for November 5, says Arum

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s return to the ring appears to be inevitable as Top Rank chief Bob Arum has already penciled in the Filipino boxer for a November 5 fight date.

Pacquiao’s long-time boxing promoter told the LA Times that the aforementioned date was first consulted to Pacquiao, who won a senate seat in the recently-concluded general elections.

Arum also revealed that the October 29 date has been ruled out after discussions with both location representatives and Pacquiao’s camp. 

According to Arum, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay or the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas could serve as the venue for Pacquiao’s comeback bout.

Pacquiao announced his retirement this past April after winning a 12-round unanimous decision over Timothy Bradley Jr in their rubber match.

The 37-year-old southpaw from General Santos City said that he would not be taking a break from politics to compete, but would instead discuss with Senate President Franklin Drilon how he can find time to train once the budget has been settled in mid-October, Arum told The Guardian.

With Adrien Broner and Danny Garcia out of the equation, Arum has WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas and the winner of the title unification bout between Terence Crawford and Viktor Postol in mind.

Vargas holds a record of 27-1 with 10 knockouts and became a two-division world champion last March by claiming the available vacant WBO welterweight title at the expense of Sadam Ali.

Arum added that Pacquiao is entertaining the idea of moving down to junior welterweight, which has a weight limit of 140 pounds. 

Pacquiao only competed once at 140 pounds when he scored a second-round knockout victory over Ricky Hatton to bag The Ring magazine lineal junior welterweight title in May 2009. 

Crawford and Postol, who are both undefeated with identical win-loss slates of 28-0, will duke it out for the WBC and WBO junior welterweight titles on Saturday, July 23 (Sunday Manila time).

“A lot depends on if Manny wants to go down to 140. If he decides to go to 140 and Crawford wins, that could be the fight, but if he says no, says, ‘Because of the Senate, I’m not going to be able to get down to 140 comfortably,’ then he’ll fight against Vargas,” Arum was quoted by LA Times. 

Pacaquiao’s longtime trainer Freddie Roach also trains Postol, but the 7-time BWAA “Trainer of the Year” awardee has made it clear that he will be in the Pinoy pugilist’s corner if his two pupils cross paths. – Rappler.com