With the Philippine National flag in background, Filipino boxing great and now Senator Manny Pacquiao stands while a citation is being read to him during ceremony at the Commission on Elections Thursday, May 19, 2016 in suburban Pasay city south of Manila, Philippines. Pacquiao has won a seat in the Philippine Senate based on an unofficial count bringing him closer to a possible crack at the presidency. Pacquiao said he will retire from boxing to become a full-time politician. AP
IF EVER Manny Pacquiao decides to make a ring comeback, he need not worry about an opponent or a date for the fight.
Promoter Bob Arum has figured out the possibilities, naming Terence Crawford, Adrien Broner and World Boxing Council welterweight champion Danny Garcia as the leading candidates in an interview with Review-Journal.
Arum, Top Rankís top honcho, even cited a date Oct. 15 and a venueóMandalay Bay Events Center for Pacquiao’s return after closing his illustrious career with a unanimous decision victory over Tim Bradley on April 9.
However, Pacquiao, though interested to fight again, seems bent on fulfilling his duties as newly elected Philippine senator.
Arum, though, is confident the former eight-division world champion will leave his options open and find time to train and fight for another guaranteed $20-million bonanza.
And if that happens, Arum sees another fight, most probably against World Boxing Organization super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, on the horizon next year.
According to a FightHype.com report, Broner (32 wins, 2-loss, 1 No Contest, 24 knockouts) has the inside track to be Pacquiao’s (58-6-2, 39 KOs) comeback opponent.