By Luke Furman

Former champion Manny Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38KOs) is ready to return to the ring in either April or May, but his trainer Freddie Roach is recommending a longer period of rest.

Last Saturday in Las Vegas, Pacquiao was brutally knocked out in the sixth round of his fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Pacquiao doesn't care about the return opponent; he just wants to get back in the ring. He doesn't have a problem with returning in April or May. Top Rank had previously reserved a date of April 20th for Pacquiao, with Brandon Rios as the tentative opponent.

“I am a boxer. Whoever my promoter gives me to fight, I will be ready. I’m going to train and prepare harder. I want my fans to see the old and aggressive Manny Pacquiao. But now, my fighting style will depend on my opponent," Pacquiao said.

Roach is not on board with an early 2013 return. He wants Pacquiao to rest until the fall of 2013. Before Pacquiao returned to the Philippines, they briefly spoke about a 2013 return.

“April or May is way too soon. I sat down and swallowed what happened the other night. Then I got to talk to Manny and we had a great conversation on what’s going to happen next and how he feels. We haven’t completely decided but we have a good idea. You get hit with a shot like that and maybe you had a concussion. I wouldn’t be thinking of a fight until maybe September. That’s my idea of the soonest," Roach told The Philippine Star.

Luke Furman covers boxing for bokser.org