by Ronnie Nathanielsz

Manny Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz has indicated that Macau looms as the venue for the eight division world champion’s next fight planned for sometime in September.

Koncz told boxingscene.com/Manila Standard that “Macau seems to be it according to (Top Rank promoter) Bob Arum.

At the same time Koncz told us that “unless there is a deal set with the venue regardless of who the opponent is, I don’t see Manny having time to go to Macau in the middle of an election.”

While Pacquiao is running unopposed for  re-election for the sole congressional seat in Sarangani province his wife Jinkee who is running for vice governor of the province and brother Rogelio who is going up against  former congresswoman Darlene Antonino Custodio face tough battles.

Koncz said that “if Arum closes a deal with Macau then that’s a different story because then we should be there to represent the Venetian and so on” even as he indicated that Pacquiao’s purse would be essentially tied up with the chosen venue.

He said “the most important thing is the venue and the purse goes hand-in-hand with the vebnue.”

As for a possible opponent, Pacquiao’s adviser said the names of Juan Manuel Marquez who scored a crushing 6th round knockout over Pacquiao in Las Vegas last December 8 in their fourth meeting and WBO welterweight champion Timothy “Desert Storm” Bradley who came out a close winner in a war with Pacquiao’s premier sparring partner Ruslan Provodnikov are among those being considered along with the winner of the rematch for the WBO light welterweight interim title  between Brandon “Bam Bam” Rios and Mike Alvarado on March 30 , although Koncz intimated “I have some thoughts of my own” which he didn’t spell out.

Top Rank will present a blockbuster fight card at the Venetian in Macau on April 6 in which WBO/WBA flyweight champion Brian Viloria will defend his title against tough Juan Francisco Estrada of Mexico and No.1 contender Milan Melindo will face Tommy Seran of Indonesia with two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time world flyweight champion Zou Shiming making his professional debut and the undefeated Penalosaa brothers Dodie Boy and Dave also on the card.

At the same time he said Pacquiao’s continuing to play basketball was good exercise for him “because he enjoys it and its less stress.”