Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring April 9 to meet welterweight champion Timothy Bradley Jr. for a third time, the fighters’ promoter, Bob Arum, said Wednesday.
And although Pacquiao is seeking election to the Philippine Senate, he and Arum have agreed not to market this as his final bout.
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FOR THE RECORD:
Boxing: In the Dec. 30 Sports section, an article about the upcoming Manny Pacquiao-Timothy Bradley Jr. bout identified Al Haymon as boxer Amir Khan’s promoter. Haymon is Khan’s advisor.
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Pacquiao has repeatedly said he’s hopeful to return with an impressive performance and then work to talk unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. out of retirement for a rematch.
Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 knockouts) has been sidelined since his May 2 unanimous-decision loss to Mayweather Jr. in their record-selling, long-awaited bout in which Pacquiao reaggravated a shoulder injury suffered in training.
On his Facebook page this week, Pacquiao, 37, declared the surgically repaired shoulder “100 percent” in a Q and A with fans.
Pacquiao has appeared to have his way with Bradley in both their June 2012 and April 2014 meetings, although judges C.J. Ross and Duane Ford scored the 2012 bout for Bradley in what was considered a dubious decision.
Yet, the 32-year-old Bradley (33-1-1, 13 KOs) was impressive on Nov. 7, successfully defending his World Boxing Organization welterweight belt with a ninth-round technical knockout of Brandon Rios in Las Vegas.
“We haven’t seen this fight already, because this is a new Bradley,” Arum said.
“I don’t know that Manny has to prove anything other than he’s better than the current Bradley and his new coach. The Bradley who beat Rios was better than the Bradley I’ve seen of the last five years. Can that Bradley beat Manny Pacquiao? I don’t know, but I think it’s a close fight and he’s still coming off an injury.”
The Rios fight marked Bradley’s first with trainer Teddy Atlas, the former Mike Tyson cornerman and current ESPN analyst who coaxed a masterful boxing performance from Bradley after the champion was hit too often in fights preceding it.
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Manny Pacquiao celebrates after his unanimous decision victory over Timothy Bradley in their WBO welterweight championship match April 12, 2014, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
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Manny Pacquiao shows off the WBO welterweight belt he won by defeating Timothy Bradley by unanimous decision. (Joe Klamar / AFP/Getty Images)
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Manny Pacquiao rejoices after taking a unanimous decision over the man who had shocked him two years ago and taken a controversial decision, the quick-hitting Tim Bradley of Palm Springs. (Joe Klamar / AFP / Getty Images)
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Manny Pacquiao wore down Timothy Bradley on Saturday night, dominating the later rounds to win the WBO welterweight title by unanimous decision. (Isaac Brekken / Associated Press)
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Manny Pacquiao avenged his 2012 split-decision loss to Timothy Bradley with a unanimous-decision victory Saturday night in Las Vegas. (Joe Klamar / AFP / Getty Images)
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Manny Pacquiao, rights, talks with trainer Freddie Roach during his WBO welterweight title match against Timothy Bradley. (Eric Jamison / Associated Press)
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Timothy Bradle, left, goes on the offensive against Manny Pacquiao but would ultimately lose Saturday night by unanimous decision. (Joe Klamar / AFP / Getty Images)
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Timothy Bradley, left, connects against Manny Pacquiao but came out on the losing end of a unanimous decision in their WBO world welterweight bout Saturday night. (Joe Klamar / AFP / Getty Images)
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Timothy Bradley, right, loses balance against Manny Pacquiao during the rematch of their controversial 2012 bout Saturday night in Las Vegas. (Joe Klamar / AFP / Getty Images)
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Manny Pacquiao, left, throws a left at Timothy Bradley during their WBO welterweight title bout Saturday in Las Vegas. (Eric Jamison / Associated Press)
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Manny Pacquiao, left, and Timothy Bradley move in close during their WBO welterweight title fight Saturday in Las Vegas. (Eric Jamison / Associated Press)
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Manny Pacquiao, right, won by unanimous decision against Timothy Bradley on Saturday night. (Joe Klamar / AFP / Getty Images)
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Timothy Bradley, left, and Manny Pacquiao exchange punches during their WBO welterweight title bout on April 12, 2014.
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Manny Pacquiao, right, took on Timothy Bradley for the WBO welterweight title Saturday night in Las Vegas. (David Becker / Getty Images)
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Timothy Bradley, right, loses his footing in front of Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night in Las Vegas. (Isaac Brekken / Associated Press)
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Timothy Bradley stumbles in front of Manny Pacquiao during their WBO welterweight title bout Saturday night in Las Vegas. (David Becker / Getty Images)
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Manny Pacquiao, left, was looking for redemption Saturday in the rematch of his controversial loss to Timothy Bradley in 2012. (David Becker / Getty Images)
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Timothy Bradley, right, was looking to show his 2012 split-decision victory over Manny Pacquiao was no fluke Saturday night in Las Vegas. (John Gurzinski / AFP / Getty Images)
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Timothy Bradley, left, lands a left to the head of Manny Pacquiao during their WBO welterweight title fight Saturday in Las Vegas. (Eric Jamison / Associated Press)
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Timothy Bradley, left, connects against Manny Pacquiao during Saturday’s WBO welterweight title bout. (Isaac Brekken / Associated Press)
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Manny Pacquiao, left, connects with a right to the face of Timothy Bradley Saturday in their WBO welterweight title fight in Las Vegas. (Eric Jamison / Associated Press)
Atlas and Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach will certainly engage in verbal warfare preceding this bout.
Arum said the Pacquiao-Bradley deal has been verbally agreed upon by both fighters, and that contracts are being sent, with news conferences scheduled in Los Angeles and New York in January. Pacquiao is expected to begin training at Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood by Feb. 1, Arum said.
Pacquiao was expected to announce whether he’d choose Bradley, junior-welterweight champion Terence Crawford or former 140-pound champion Amir Khan earlier this month, but then told Arum he needed more time.
“We have the deals … Manny approved it … and now the paperwork is being prepared,” Arum said.
“I’m not going to advertise it as his last fight. It could be his last fight. But I’m not going to put myself in position where he changes his mind and goes on to fight in November, and then everyone says I’m a huckster. If it’s his last fight, it’s his last fight and it can be relevant as such after …. I’m not certain it is.
“Mayweather is retired, so I take him as his word. I could say, ‘B.S., he’s retired,’ but how do I know that? He’s retired? OK, he’s retired.”
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. celebrates after defeating Manny Pacquiao for the WBC welterweight championship at the MGM Grand Garden Arena on May 2, 2015. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. lands a punch in the eighth round against Manny Pacquiao during their welterweight title fight on May 2, 2015. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao trade blows during their welterweight title fight on May 2, 2015. (John Locher / Associated Press)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. enjoys the moment after beating Manny Pacquiao. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Manny Pacquiao salutes the crowd after fighting 12 rounds with Floyd Mayweather on Saturday night. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao talk in the ring Saturday following their “Fight of the Century.” (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. enjoys himself after his win over Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. holds up the belt after defeating Manny Pacquiao for the WBC welterweight championship Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. retained his welterweight title by defeating Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. with his belt. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. celebrates after beating Manny Pacquiao by unanimous decision. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. connects with a body shot to the ribs of Manny Pacquiao in the 11th round. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather lands a punch during the sixth round against Manny Pacquiao. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Manny Pacquiao gets Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the corner during the 10th round. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr., right, trades blows with Manny Pacquiao. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. connects with an 11th round punch on Manny Pacquiao. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Manny Pacquiao lands a punch during the sixth round against Floyd Mayweather Jr. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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Manny Pacquiao fires away at Floyd Mayweather Jr. during the third round. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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FLoyd Mayweather lands a punch against Manny Pacquaio during their 2015 bout in Las Vegas. Promoter Bob Arum says Pacquiao will finish his career with four fights this year, none of them against the retired Mayweather. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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FLoyd Mayweather Jr. lands a punch to Manny Pacquaio in the fourth round Saturday in Las Vegas. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)
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The crowd watches the fight at MGM Grand. (Eric Jamison / Associated Press)
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Floyd Mayweather lands a right against Manny Pacquiao in their May 2, 2015, fight. (Isaac Brekken / Associated Press)
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Pacquiao takes aim. (John Locher / Associated Press)
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Mayweather in his corner. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Close-range fighting. (Isaac Brekken / Associated Press)
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Pacquiao ducks to avoid a Mayweather left. (FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP/Getty Images)
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Mayweather ducks. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Pacquiao punches Mayweather near the ropes. (Eric Jamison / Associated Press)
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The fighters get more aggressive. (John Locher / Associated Press)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao trade blows. (John Locher / Associated Press)
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Manny Pacquiao in his corner. (John Locher / Associated Press)
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The fighters in the ring in Round 1. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. throws a punch in the first round. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Manny Pacquiao throws a punch in the first round. (FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP/Getty Images)
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Manny Pacquiao walks toward the ring. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Floyd Mayweather Jr. in the ring before the fight. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Manny Pacquiao fans gather in L.A.’s Filipinotown. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)
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Jamie Foxx sings the national anthem. (FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP/Getty Images)
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Leo Santa Cruz celebrates his majority decision over Jose Cayetano in a featherweight bout Saturday at MGM Grand Garden Arena. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Leo Santa Cruz, right, throws a right at Jose Cayetano during their featherweight bout Saturday in Las Vegas. (Harry How / Getty Images)
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Leo Santa Cruz, right, defeated Jose Cayetano by unanimous decision in a 10-round featherweight fight in Las Vegas in May. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Leo Santa Cruz, right, throws a right at Jose Cayetano during their featherweight bout Saturday in Las Vegas. (Al Bello / Getty Images)
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Leo Santa Cruz, left, punches Jose Cayetano during their featherweight fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2, 2015. (Eric Jamison / Associated Press)
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Leo Santa Cruz, right, punches Jose Cayetano during their featherweight fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2, 2015. (Eric Jamison / Associated Press)
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Jose Cayetano, right, of Mexico, lands a right to the body of Leo Santa Cruz during their featherweight fight at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2, 2015. (Isaac Brekken / Associated Press)
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Leo Santa Cruz, right, trades blows with Jose Cayetano during their featherweight bout at MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2, 2015. (John Locher / Associated Press)
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New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady talks with Leslie Moonves and Julie Chen before the welterweight unification championship bout between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao on Saturday night. (Harry How / Getty Images)
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Ring girls practice their routine before the first fight of the Mayweather-Pacquiao card on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. (Kevin Baxter / Los Angeles Times)
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Boxing fans pose for a photo in front of a Mayweather-Pacquiao poster on Saturday in the lobby of the MGM Grand. (Kevin Baxter / Los Angeles Times)
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Brad Solomon celebrates after beating Adrian R. Granado in a super-middleweight fight, which was the first on the Mayweather-Pacquiao undercard Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
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Vasyl Lomachenko lands a right to the face of Gamalier Rodriguez during their featherweight title fight on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. (John Locher / Associated Press)
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Vasyl Lomachenko tries to slip a punch by Gamalier Rodriguez during their featherweight title fight in Las Vegas. (John Locher / Associated Press)
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Gamalier Rodriguez gets a standing eight count from referee Robert Byrd after being knocked down by Vasyl Lomachenko during their featherweight title fight Saturday. (John Locher / Associated Press)
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Vasyl Lomachenko celebrates his ninth-round knockout victory over Gamalier Rodriguez in their featherweight title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. (Eric Jamison / Associated Press)
Arum said Crawford, who he promotes, and Khan, handled by Arum’s adversary Al Haymon, were rejected by cable and satellite distributors for not being “that well known yet.”
“They didn’t feel Khan would do anything,” Arum said. “[Khan] has a spotty record, hasn’t done great ratings. Why would we feel he’d do well on pay-per-view?”
Arum said he’s seeking to place a super-middleweight title fight between his unbeaten challenger Gilberto Ramirez and Arthur Abraham on the Pacquiao-Bradley undercard, along with a possible heavyweight bout between Ike Ibeabuchi and Andy Ruiz. He said Crawford will fight on HBO twice between now and July and then be available for a possible Pacquiao pay-per-view card later in 2016.
Crawford is being pointed toward a Feb. 27 title defense against Riverside’s Mauricio Herrera on HBO, with gifted Puerto Rican lightweight Felix Verdejo on the Madison Square Garden card, Arum said.
