Boxing is the least of Manny Pacquiao’s primary concerns these days.
But it doesn’t mean the Filipino legend is not looking forward to his return to the ring next year.
Pacquiao said during a break in his preaching in Mindanao that his right shoulder is completely healed and that he will be ready to stage his comeback fight as early as February 2016.
“Pwede na,” said Pacquiao, who lost a unanimous decision to Floyd Mayweather in his last fight last May in Las Vegas.
In fact, Pacquiao revealed that aside from scuba diving, he has started playing basketball.
“Wala na.
Okay na ako,” said Pacquiao, who turns 37 on Dec. 17.
Pacquiao reinjured his right rotator cuff during the defeat to Mayweather and doctors in Los Angeles operated on him four days after the super fight.
Top Rank head Bob Arum is looking at a Pacquiao fight in the first quarter of 2016 but the Hall of Fame promoter will only get to dot the Is and cross the Ts is when he finally gets to sit down with the fighter.
Amir Khan of England and Terence Crawford have been mentioned by Arum as probable foes, while trainer Freddie Roach wants another guy – Puerto Rican banger Danny Garcia – to bring Pacquiao to deep waters.
But it seems Pacquiao, the only fighter to win eight world titles in as many divisions, is not spending most of his time thinking about Khan and company.
“Wala munang boxing for the meantime,” said Pacquiao, who is also being rumored to run for senator in next year’s national elections.
Pacquiao has a contract with Top Rank that runs until the end of 2016 and Arum believes that if Pacquiao wins a Senate seat, his fight early next year could very well be his last.