By Nick Giongco
Manny Pacquiao said on Wednesday night that he is itching to get back into the ring and that a May date suits him perfectly fine.
“I have advised Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) that I can fight in May or July,” Pacquiao told a handful of scribes during a break in his Senate duties.
If PBC can set him up for a May fight, it would be the ideal scenario for the 40-year-old Pacquiao since the Senate will be observing a lengthy break beginning this week until May 20 for the mid-term elections.
Pacquiao is coming off a resounding win over Adrien Broner in Las Vegas in the first defense of the World Boxing Association welterweight crown.
The Senate recess will allow Pacquiao to train for a May fight against a foe that will be selected by Al Haymon, who runs PBC, the fast-rising outfit that has the majority of the best 147-pounders under its control.
The problem is that key potential foes of Pacquiao are scheduled to see action in March, something that is preventing PBC from naming the Filipino’s next rival.
Shawn Porter, who used to spar with Pacquiao, defends the World Boxing Council title on March 9 in Carson, California.
Errol Spence, regarded as the top dog in the talent-laden division, puts the International Boxing Federation diadem on the line on March 16 in Arlington, Texas.
Even Terence Crawford of rival Top Rank is booked and will be facing Amir Khan on April 20 in New York.
“We’ll just have to wait and see,” said Pacquiao, who also mentioned July as a backup date for his next fight assuming he can’t get a May schedule in place.
Australian Jeff Horn, who beat Pacquiao on a controversial split decision, is also making some noise lately.
Pacquiao, however, has turned a deaf earn on the Brisbane native’s frantic calls.
“I was willing to do a rematch with them but they didn’t want to. And now that I am back on top and they are coming off a loss, they are asking for a rematch. No way,” he added.
But there is one fight that can put everything aside: a rematch with Floyd Mayweather.
The problem is Pacquiao is unsure if Mayweather is dead-serious in making a comeback.
