MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum said he cannot make a move regarding Manny Pacquiao’s first fight of 2017 until he receives the boxer’s Senate schedule.
Specifically, Arum wants to know when the Senate goes into recess, meaning that could stretch Pacquiao’s ring return to as late as June.
Speaking recently to boxingscene.com’s Steve Kim, the veteran promoter said he will even meet with Senate President Aquilino “Koko” Pimentel III to determine the best time for Pacquiao to fight again.
“The truth is it (Pacquiao’s next bout) would be sometime before the end of June. Now exactly when that will be, I can't rely on anybody except going over there and meeting with the president of the senate and determine what the schedule is for the Senate,” Arum explained.
Arum is simply going with Pacquiao’s promise not to let boxing affect his duties as a legislator.
“His first job is as a senator and I can't influence when they have recesses,” he added.
That’s why for Arum, Pacquiao’s Senate schedule is required before they can start finalizing the boxer’s next bout, the first of two planned outings next year.
“I know they (Senate) have recesses scheduled but once I get the schedule of the Senate going forward, then I'll sit with Manny, we'll plan he date and we'll get an opponent,” said Arum.
Although Pacquiao previously stated his preference for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., the retired American is non-committal on a comeback. And in the event Mayweather passes up, Pacquiao’s camp will look elsewhere.
Rising star Terence Crawford, the undefeated WBC and WBO super lightweight champion who’s also Pacquiao’s Top Rank stablemate, is a likely candidate.
Ukrainian sensation Vasyl Lomachenko, another Top Rank fighter, also has a shot at landing a lucrative fight with Pacquiao.
Arum, for his part, stressed that Pacquiao will have the final say.
“That's up to Manny so I punt that to Manny. Manny will tell me and we have a number of opponents we're considering, a number of ways to go, a number of venues we're talking to about and nothing is going to be finalized till I go to the Philippines and do my due diligence,” Arum told Kim. - Dino Maragay