Pacquiao stays with Arum’s Top Rank until end of 2016

Manny Pacquiao. AP FILE PHOTO

MANILA, Philippines — Manny Pacquiao has inked a two-year extension with Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions.

The Hall of Fame promoter announced on Wednesday that the 35-year-old Pacquiao’s new promotional agreement is up until December 31, 2016.

“We are pleased that together with our partners at HBO we will continue presenting to the public fights of the great Manny Pacquiao through the end of 2016,” Arum said in a statement.

Arum has promoted the Filipino boxing legend’s fights since 2005.

The move, though, makes chances for a highly-anticipated Pacquiao clash with pound-for-pound rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. even dimmer.

In an earlier interview with fighthype.com, Mayweather said that he will “never do business with Bob Arum again in life, and Pacquiao is Bob Arum’s fighter.”

Pacquiao, meanwhile, will fight again in November with the opponent still unknown. Among those being considered is long-time Mexican nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez.

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