Manny Pacquiao's comeback planned for 5 November
WBC champion Viktor Postol or WBO welterweight title-holder Jessie Vargas could fight Manny Pacquiao.
Superstar boxer Manny Pacquiao's return to the ring is being planned for 5 November in Las Vegas, according to the fighter's promoter Bob Arum. The eight-division champion who hung up his gloves in May, bowed out of the sport with a career record of 58 wins in 66 fights with his last clash coming against Timothy Bradley at the MGM Grand on 9 April.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao's fight promoter, revealed that 29 October had been ruled out for the comeback after discussions with both the site representative and the Philippine fighter.
The 37-year-old, who was elected to his country's senate in May, had earlier said he would not be taking a break from politics to fight, but with the head of the senate giving him permission to train once the country's budget is settled in mid-October, Pacquiao wants to use the time to return to the ring.
Arum, while attending a media conference with World Boxing Organization (WBO) light-welterweight champion Terence Crawford at Hollywood, said World Boxing Council (WBC) champion Viktor Postol and WBO welterweight title-holder Jessie Vargas are possible contenders to fight the boxing legend.
While his trainer Freddie Roach believes that junior-welterweight is Pacquiao's best fighting weight, Arum is unsure if the 37-year-old will have sufficient time to take of the additional seven pounds for the tie.
"A lot depends on if Manny wants to go down to 140. If he decides to go to 140 and Crawford wins, that could be the fight, but if he says no, says, 'Because of the Senate, I'm not going to be able to get down to 140 comfortably, then he'll fight against Vargas," Arum said as quoted by Los Angeles Times.
The promoter ruled out Pacquiao fighting current WBC welterweight champion Danny Garcia, dismissing that the clash would ever happen.
"Nobody's ever called me about Garcia. Garcia's saying he wants more money. Who's he talking to?"
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