Pacquiao sets fight date; Ancajas-Sultan slated in US

Manny Pacquiao. Photo by Randolph B. Leongson/INQUIRER.net FILE PHOTO

Manny Pacquiao reiterated Wednesday that his next fight will be in Kuala Lumpur.

For lack of preparation time, however, the eight-division world champion opted to move back the date from his earlier pronouncement of either April 29 or May 6 to June 24.

Pacquiao has limited his choice of foe to either American two-division world champion Danny Garcia or World Boxing Association welterweight champion Lucas Matthysse of Argentina.

Pacquiao, who rejected an April 14 showdown with former world champion Mike Alvarado at Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, said the new fight date will not interfere with his legislative duties since the Senate will take a break on March 24, resume on May 14 and adjourn anew on June 2.

Meanwhile, the historic world title duel between Jerwin Ancjas and Jonas Sultan will definitely push through in the United States, according to Joven Jimenez, Ancajas’ head trainer.

Whether it will serve as the undercard of the WBO welterweight title fight between Australian champion Jeff Horn and American Terence Crawford or the headliner of a fight card in Philadelphia on April 28 remains to be finalized, according to Jimenez.