There is a standing offer for Manny Pacquiao to fight again but it would be up to the Filipino legend to decide if he wants to focus mainly on politics or give boxing another shot.
“There is something for him (this year),” MP Promotions head Sean Gibbons told Daily Tribune Sunday from Los Angeles.
Still, the ball is in Pacquiao’s court given his hectic schedule.
Last time he fought, Pacquiao was outpointed by massive underdog Yordenis Ugas of Cuba before 17,433 fans at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
The loss cost Pacquiao a chance to become a world champion as Ugas was risking the World Boxing Association welterweight crown that the fighting senator used to wear.
Pacquiao complained that while he felt great during the fight, his fee bothered him so much that he could not properly execute his game plan.
Even those around him agree lessons were learned from the Ugas fight that can be corrected.
Ugas, 35, a 2008 Beijing Olympics bronze medalist, won by unanimous decision in what will go down as one of the year’s biggest upsets.
Pacquiao was busier all night long, throwing a total of 815 punches as to Ugas’ 405.
Ugas had the better percentage overall, landing 157 or 37 percent while Pacquiao was a bit off, connecting just 130 for 16 percent.
In the power punches department, Pacquiao unleashed 340 (88 landed for 26 percent) while Ugas unloaded 171 (101 landed for 59 percent).
Pacquiao, who turns 43 in December, is currently attending to the needs of his political party PDP-Laban (Pacquiao wing) in the runup to next year’s national elections.
Yesterday afternoon, Pacquiao formally declared his intention to run for president in next year’s presidential elections.
“We are ready to rise to the challenge of leadership,” Pacquiao announced during a crucial meeting of his political party.
The official filing of candidacy will be from 1 to 8 October while the campaign season kicks off on 8 February until 7 May in 2022. The elections are scheduled on 9 May.
In the event Pacquiao decides to fight again, he can also move his comeback bout to January 2022 if he doesn’t find the time to train in the next few months.
