MANILA, Philippines – World eight-division champion Manny Pacquiao arrived at dawn yesterday with his injured arm in a sling and three ?R? options up in the air following his showdown with American Floyd Mayweather Jr. ? recovery, rematch or retirement.
The Filipino boxing icon came back with his family and entourage from Los Angeles after his unsuccessful bid to deal Mayweather his first loss in the mega fight at the MGM Grand that turned out to be the richest, biggest and most lucrative, with estimated pay-per-view buys reaching a record 4.4 million.
Pacquiao said he would spend more time with his family and attend to his duties as acting chairman of the committee on overseas workers affairs in Congress, but it is his concern over his recovery from surgery that repaired a torn rotator cuff that could serve as a linchpin to other major personal decisions.
It will take two months for his shoulder to mend and it will take another six months before he could even think of challenging Mayweather in a rematch of the high-profile Las Vegas showdown which he reiterated he had won.
?I will focus first on rehabilitating my shoulder. After that I?ll announce whether to continue my career or announce my retirement. I?m not saying that I?m going to retire but I?m already 36,? said Pacquiao, adding that it will all depend on his recovery.
?Siguro ilang laban na lang, konti na lang (Maybe a couple more fights). Dalawang laban(Two fights),? said Pacquiao, who also paid a courtesy call on President Aquino after the morning motorcade through the cities of Makati, Pasay and Manila. Headlines ( Article MRec ), pagematch: 1, sectionmatch: 1
His contract with Top Rank will expire by the end of 2016, and if he does two fights next year then that should do it. Retirement may come soon.
?Tingnan natin. Mahirap magsalita ng tapos (We?ll see. We can?t say anything with finality),? said Pacquiao, who held a short press conference at the airport after their plane touched down at 3:50 a.m.
Pacquiao emerged from the tube flanked by close friends, followed by his wife Jinkee, their year-old son Israel in her arms, and their four other children.
He said he barely slept during the 14-hour flight because of pain on his right shoulder.
?It still hurts. I barely slept. I would rather have a toothache than this,? said Pacquiao, wearing a black sling, which he said is required for four weeks.
?There are a lot of things to do but focus is on how to rehabilitate my shoulder,? he said.
?Right now there?s no problem with the cases. We know the rules of boxing. I did everything I could during the fight. Lumaban tayo,? he said.
?God will fight my battle,? Pacquao said.
As he arrived, news was all over boxing websites that his fight with Mayweather had 4.4 million pay-per-view buys, generating over $500 million in revenues.
Looking at these record-breaking numbers, it will be difficult for both superstars and their respective teams not to think about a rematch for 2016.
?I don?t have a problem with that but first I must focus on my recovery. I need to recover 100 percent. A rematch is not a problem as long as I am fully recovered,? he said.
?That?s my focus right now,? said Pacquiao, adding that doctors who attended to him in LA have given him specific instructions on how to perform therapy on his right shoulder.
?And I have competent doctors here led by Dr. (Regina) Bagsic,? said Pacquiao. ?Right now I?m not thinking about the rematch. Let us see if I?d still continue boxing or not.?
Then came the inevitable question about politics ? whether Pacquiao would seek a third term as congressman or run for senator next year and then shoot for the presidency in 2022.
Pacquiao is too young to run for president next year (age requirement is 40). But the question on the presidency brought light to his face. ? With Rudy Santos, Non Alquitran, Paolo Romero, Delon Porcalla
