Not even Manny Pacquiao himself is sure if he still got another fight in him, but just to be on the safe side, his promoter has already reserved a date and venue for a potential comeback.
Top Rank chief executive Bob Arum told Lance Pugmire of Los Angeles Times that he has reserved Mandalay Bay for Oct 15 for Pacquiao.
“We have the date… just to protect ourselves,” Arum said.
However, it’s far from being a done deal.
The former eight-division world champion Pacquiao is now a member of the Philippine Senate after winning a seat in the elections last May.
His new responsibility may no longer allow him to commit to the rigorous training schedule that a fight would entail.
“He doesn’t know. He has to see what committees he has, what kind of hearings he has,” Arum said.
Arum, however, already has several possible opponents in mind.
One of his choices is American Adrien Broner. Unbeaten light-welterweight champion Terence Crawford is also contender, and so is undefeated welterweight Keith Thurman.
Ffoyd Mayweather, who already announced his retirement last year, is not included in the list.
“Definitely not Mayweather. We’ve been told he’s not ready to fight yet,” Arum said. “Otherwise, of course, we’d consider that.”
If the fight pushes through in October, it will be Pacquaio’s first fight in Mandalay Bay since his ninth round stoppage of David Diaz in June 2008.
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