Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum is still in the process of dotting the Is and crossing the Ts as he sets the stage for Manny Pacquiao’s return fight in late-October or early-November in Las Vegas.
But if there’s thing that is concrete, it is Pacquiao’s confirmation that he will be ready to fight by that time.
USA Today reported yesterday that Pacquiao is “definitely” seeing action (in October or November) quoting the Top Rank head and saying Arum is just waiting for the outcome of a July 23 show he is promoting.
Terence Crawford, the unbeaten fighter Arum is angling to meet Pacquiao, faces Viktor Postol and a victory should make him a viable foe for the eight-division Filipino legend.
Also being eyed are Danny Garcia and Jessie Vargas but Arum is expected to get a better view once the Crawford-Postol match is over as he intends to do the official announcement about Pacquiao’s comeback the week after.
Pacquiao was elected to the Philippine Senate during the May elections but the 37-year-old lawmaker insists that if he ever decides to fight again, he won’t abandon his legislative duties by taking a leave of absence.
In the event a fight is made, Pacquao will bring in Freddie Roach so they can set up training camp somewhere in Metro Manila so he could still attend Senate hearings.
Pacquiao easily beat Tim Bradley last April at the MGM Grand where he sent the American down twice en route to a clear-cut decision.
The MGM Grand is in the running to play host to Pacquiao’s next fight alongside the brand-new T-Mobile Arena, the Mandalay Bay Events Center and even the Thomas and Mack Center, where he stopped Mexican rival Erik Morales a decade ago.
