MANNY PACQUIAO disclosed over the weekend that American Kevin Kelley, the aging former world featherweight, has been mentioned as his possible opponent when he returns to the ring on Sept. 10 at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
“Nabanggit lang ang kanyang pangalan pero meron pang iba na pinagpipilian,” said Pacquiao from his two-bedroom unit at Sunset-Vine in Hollywood, California.
Kelley, who held the World Boxing Council 126lb title in the early 1990s, holds a 56-6-2 win-loss-draw card with 37 knockouts.
The 38-year-old Kelley is coming off two victories, against Felix St. Kitts and Jose Reyes.
A professional since 1988, when Pacquiao was just 12 years old, Kelley was beaten by Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales and Naseem Hamed.
“Basta’t ako kung sino ang ilagay nila ay hindi ko aatrasan,” said Pacquiao. “Excited na nga akong bumalik sa pag-eensayo.”
Pacquiao recently expressed satisfaction over the decision of his US promoter Murad Muhammad for an out of court settlement in the $33 million case the Filipino southpaw filed in New York with the help of his battery of lawyers led by Judd Burstein.
The last time Pacquiao was on top of the ring was in March when he was outpointed by Morales at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Pacquiao is set to arrive in the country tomorrow morning from Los Angeles.
