MANILA, Philippines ? Manny Pacquiao is back but there’s nothing on the horizon for the Filipino icon so far even as promoter Bob Arum is batting for a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, while some are pushing for a megabuck duel with Floyd Mayweather and a sparring partner is urging him to retire.
Pacquiao arrived at 8:30 a.m. Monday on board a Philippine Airlines flight 103 from Los Angeles, a little over a week after punching his way to a hard-earned 12-round majority decision win over Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
The fighting congressman from Sarangani, joined in the trip by wife Jinkee, was warmly welcomed at the airport by his four kids, who were showered with hugs and kisses by the country’ most beloved sporting hero.
Pacquiao admitted in his arrival speech that he was unhappy with his performance against his Mexican archrival just like the millions of Filipinos who expected him to dispatch Marquez with ease although he was truly deserving of the verdict.
Pacquiao is being eyed to return to the ring in May 2012 against an opponent yet to be named.
Arum said a fourth fight with Marquez is going to draw, while others within the inner circle want Pacquiao to do everything to seal a deal for a Mayweather fight.
But British world champion Amir Khan, who has sparred many times with Pacquiao, has a different perspective.
Khan wants Pacquiao, who he Blackrefers to as ?my friend,? to hang up his gloves.
Speaking to the Telegraph, the respected British newspaper, Khan said he ?thought Marquez won it by one or two rounds? in a story that ran last Nov. 15, two days after the fight.
?It was a close fight. You could see Marquez had done his homework and knew what he needed to do. When they went into the last round, I thought Marquez was going to win and Manny’s trainer Freddie Roach thought the same.?
?But I’m pleased for Manny because he is a stablemate and a good friend.?
Still, Khan believes it’s high-time that Pacquiao starts thinking about retirement.
?He has some serious thinking to do ? he was lucky and he got away with it against Marquez.?
Pacquiao said he will focus first on his other job as a lawmaker in the coming weeks before deciding who to fight next.
Although negotiations haven’t started either for a Marquez or Mayweather fight, Las Vegas has already put a betting line on a Pacquiao-Mayweather clash.
Owing to Pacquiao’s showing against Marquez, oddsmakers have installed Mayweather as a -150 favorite, while Pacquiao is +130, the first time in a long time that Pacquiao has assumed the underdog status.
