Manny Pacquiao delays final opponent announcement
Boxer Manny Pacquiao has delayed the announcement of his opponent in what is scheduled to be his final match on April 9 in Las Vegas, reports ESPN’s Dan Rafael.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum had said that the opponent would be revealed during the “MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout” card this week. However, Arum spokesman Fred Sternburgh told ESPN on Thursday that the announcement would not be happening.
Sternburgh said that announcement will not go as originally planned because “Manny is not ready to make a decision on his opponent yet.”
Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs) last fought Floyd Mayweather on May 2. Pacquiao injured his rotator cuff in the unanimous-decision loss and is currently coming off surgery.
Three candidates have reportedly been under consideration for Pacquiao’s last fight.
The first is welterweight titlist Timothy Bradley Jr. (33–1–1, 13 KOs), who is 1–1 against Pacquiao. The second is junior welterweight titlist Terrence Crawford (27–0, 19 KOs). Crawford was the 2014 fighter of the year. Pacquiao’s third option is Amir Khan (31–3, 19 KOs), but he is said to be Pacquiao’s most unlikely choice.
Arum says that no matter who Pacquiao chooses, his opponent will earn $20 million against a percentage of the event’s profits.
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After his last fight, Pacquiao is expected to continue his political work in the Philippines, were he is currently a congressman. He is seeking a seat in the Philippines senate.
- Xandria James
