Pacquiao vows next fight won’t interfere with Senate work

Manny Pacquiao during the post-fight press conference of Pacquiao-Bradley 3 at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Pacquiao beat Timothy Bradley via unanimous decision. PHOTO BY REM ZAMORA

Manny Pacquiao will not take a break from his duties as senator to make a ring return, but the former eight-division boxing champion left the door open for a comeback.

In a statement, Pacquiao clarified his top priority is his job as legislator and assured boxing “will not interfere” with his work should he unretire.

“There is no truth to media reports that I’m planning to take a leave from my Senate duties just to fight again atop the ring,” Pacquiao wrote in a statement released on his social media accounts Wednesday.

“I want to make it clear — my priority is my legislative works,” he said. “My next fight has not yet been discussed. Should there be any, I’ll make sure it will not interfere with my Senate duties.”

During his term as Sarangani congressman, Pacquiao was among the top absentees at the House of Representatives as records showed he only came to work just four times in 2014.

Pacquiao fought twice in 2014, dominating Timothy Bradley in their rematch in April and overwhelming Chris Algeiri in November.

He was elected senator three weeks after announcing his retirement following his win over Bradley in their third fight last April in Las Vegas.

Pacquiao’s statement came on the heels of reports that promoter Bob Arum had secured an October 15 date for the former welterweight champion’s potential return.

As per Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times, Arum said Pacquiao already has the go-signal of Senate president Franklin Drilon to fight, but the proposed schedule will have to be moved to a later date.

“He conferred with the president of the Philippines Senate, who gave him permission to fight, but the 15th was turned down because the senate needs to do the budget, so now we need to get the date that coincides with the schedule, Oct. 29, or Nov. 5,” Arum told the LA Times.

In the case that the 37-year-old Pacquiao does decide to come back, he assured his fight will have to be set when he doesn’t have to sacrifice his political work in lieu of his training.

And unlike most of his training camps where he trained in the US, preparations will have to be made here.

“When I ran for senator last May 9 elections, I made a promise to be present in all sessions. I owe it to the people,” said Pacquiao, who was seventh in a 12-man Senate race after garnering over 16 million votes. “If ever I decide to fight again, rest assured it will happen when Congress is on recess so there’s no reason for me to go on leave.”

“The entire training will be done in the Philippines to ensure I can attend sessions even while on training camp.”

In the race for a possible Pacquiao derby is the winner between undefeated junior welterweights Terence Crawford and Viktor Postol, who are scheduled to fight on July 23 in Las Vegas, and so are Danny Garcia and Jesse Vargas, as per Arum in an interview with the LA Times.