Manny still hot on April fight

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is still pushing for his fight in Manila on April 21 even if his promoter and trainer want him to rest longer and just wait for a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez in September.

Pacquiao, eager to avenge a staggering knockout loss to Marquez last December, wants to keep busy, and isn’t losing hope he could do a tune-up match in Manila in April.

“That’s what we’re working on. It’s still possible,” said Pacquiao’s business manager, Eric Pineda, yesterday over the phone.

Pineda said Pacquiao will sit down with a “new group” on Monday to discuss the possibility of a fight in Manila but did not give any other details.

Reports said Pacquiao was eyeing a partnership with the group of Filipino bigwig Manny V. Pangilinan for the fight that could cost $30 million or P1.2 billion to stage.

Pineda refused to say who composes the “new group” or if it would still involve the MVP Group which has built a business empire in the Philippines.

“Let’s just hope, wait and see,” he said.

If an agreement is reached, Pacquiao will have to start training as soon as possible. He will have more than two months to get back in shape.

The name of the opponent is still under wraps but if it’s a tune-up match then it’s not supposed to involve Tim Bradley, Brandon Rios or Robert Guerrero.

These fighters are certainly not the type of a tune-up fight for Pacquiao who was knocked out cold by Marquez last December.

A possible tune-up fight for Pacquiao could involve Humberto Sotto, who knocked out Pacquiao’s younger brother, Bobby, in 2007.

Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, and trainer Freddie Roach are both hoping that Pacquiao would focus instead on his bid for reelection in May before thinking of returning to the ring.

Pacquiao is seeking a second term as congressman in Sarangani while his wife, Jinkee, is running as vice governor in the province. Pacquiao’s younger brother, Roel, is also seeing a congressional seat.

“Hopefully I can keep him out of the ring until he does a rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez in September,” Arum told 8countnews.com recently.

Arum is busy putting up fights for Brian Viloria in Macau on April 6 and Nonito Donaire in Las Vegas on April 13 but not a Pacquiao fight a week later.