Pacquiao close to making decision

MANILA, Philippines — The waiting game will soon be over regarding Manny Pacquiao’s next fight – the who, where and when.

Pacquiao will have to decide very soon on the pertinent details of his next fight – if he really wants it in April.

During Thursday’s opening of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League, a homegrown tournament put up by the boxing champion, he said the decision may come next week.

If the decision comes before the end of January, then the 39-year-old senator will have to loosen up by February, and begin training depending on the exact date of the fight in April.

Pacquiao will have seven to eight weeks to train, the latter part of which will come when the Senate is on a break.

His American promoter, Bob Arum, had said he’s planning something “interesting” for Pacquiao, who will return to action for the first time since losing to Australian Jeff Horn last April.

Arum has mentioned the possibility of Pacquiao putting up a show at the Madison Square Garden in New York or the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas depending on the availability of the venue.

A few names have been mentioned – including Mike Alvarado, who, according to Pacquiao insiders, may end up as the opponent.

Mike Koncz, the adviser of the Filipino icon, said a couple weeks ago that they’re “looking at all options.”

The options even include staging the fight in Macau, Hong Kong or Dubai, which has long wanted to have Pacquiao on board.

Vasyl Lomachenko, the Ukrainian champion at super-featherweight, has made news as Pacquiao’s probable opponent.

But Team Lomachenko, led by his father and trainer, quickly shot down the idea of the 29-year-old two-time Olympic champion moving up two weight classes from 135 lbs to 147 lbs just to face Pacquiao.

Arum said it’s not a far-fetched idea and believes that at the right time the explosive fight will happen perhaps at 140 lbs.