No telling who or when Manny Pacquiao will fight next
Manny Pacquiao’s fall opponent was supposed to be known by now.
He’s not, and neither is the date of the Pacquiao’s next fight.
Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum told The Times on Tuesday he’s still “waiting to hear” from Pacquiao about his intentions.
Arum said he remained in “conversations” with possible opponents, including Miguel Cotto, but gave little information beyond that.
“I can’t go blabbing to the press, who will trust me?” Arum said. “I have no date set, nothing. This is what happens when you’re dealing with a politician. Affairs of state come first.”
Pacquiao (54-4-2, 38 knockouts) is a congressman in the Philippines and is currently engaged in his legislative duties, said Arum. He said rematches with Cotto, Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez were still on the table as possible opponents for Pacquiao’s next bout.
Yet, Pacquiao’s advisor, Michael Koncz, said the fighter’s intention to file papers in October to run for reelection in the Philippines has made a previously considered Nov. 10 fight date impossible because Pacquiao wants to spend his entire eight-week training camp in Hollywood under trainer Freddie Roach.
Pacquiao, 33, has been rotating his fight preparation between training camps in the Philippines and at Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club. But Pacquiao had sluggish wins by decision last year over Marquez and Shane Mosley, before losing a controversial split decision to Bradley in his last fight June 9.
Arum would commit only to Las Vegas as the location for Pacquiao’s next fight.
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