Return to the ring: ‘Retired Pacquiao wants to fight again’

Claims his promoter Bob Arum, though boxer himself denies vehemently

LOS ANGELES: Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao plans to come out of retirement to fight, said his promoter on Tuesday, though the boxer said no fight has yet been set.

Bob Arum told American sports broadcaster ESPN that the former welterweight champion plans to fight on either October 29 or November 5 as a main event bout in Las Vegas as long as it doesn’t clash with his senate duties in the Philippines.

“Manny wants to come back,” revealed Arum. “The problem is he can only come back if it doesn’t interfere with his senate duties.”



Arum had previously planned an October 15 fight in Mandalay Bay Events Center, but scrapped it due to upcoming votes in the senate in Pacquiao’s native Philippines.

But in a statement, Pacquiao, who has a record of 58-6-2 with 38 knockouts, denied any firm plans on a fight.

“There is no truth to media reports that I’m planning to take a leave from my senate duties just to fight again. My priority is my legislative works,” he declared. “But should there be any fights, I’ll make sure it will not interfere with my senate duties.”



The boxer said all his training would take place in the Philippines so that he can keep participating in senate proceedings. Pacquiao typically spends half his time training in the Philippines and the other half in the US.

“Boxing is my only means of livelihood to support my family and to help those who are in need,” he said. “Politics, to me, is a vocation not a means to eke out a living.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 14^th, 2016.

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