A physical therapist will likely be imported from the US to check on the condition of Manny Pacquiao’s right shoulder injury, the Filipino fighter’s Canadian adviser said yesterday.
“They’ll send somebody here to take a look,” said Mike Koncz, noting that stitches were removed Monday but Pacquiao continues to use the sling “to prevent him from causing further injury.”
Doctors in Los Angeles performed an operation on Pacquiao’s rotator cuff on May 6 after the eight-division champion reinjured his shoulder during his unanimous decision defeat to Floyd Mayweather on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, 36, is in Manila to resume his congressional duties but is scheduled to head back to General Santos City this weekend.
Koncz said they were advised by Dr. Neal ElAttrache that rehabilitation could begin “four weeks after the operation.”
Owing to the tear, Pacquiao has been ruled out for the rest of the year and his planned comeback will have to be pushed back to mid-2016, hopefully a rematch with Mayweather at the 20,000-seat MGM-AEG Arena, which will be inaugurated in April and ready to host a Cinco de Mayo meeting on May 7.
Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc. has Pacquiao under contract until the end of 2016 and it is likely that the Hall of Fame promoter will exercise it by staging two fights next year.
However, with the shoulder injury bothering him and leaving him indisposed for the next nine to 12 months, Pacquiao might even consider retirement as an option.