Manny Pacquiao isn't ready to give up his night job just yet. Pacquiao, who said before his last fight in April that he would retire, now plans to return to the ring in November against an opponent who has yet to be selected.
Promoter Bob Arum said Tuesday that Pacquiao got permission to take a break from his new duties as a senator in the Philippines to take another fight. It would be held on October 29th or November 5th, likely in Las Vegas. A date of October 15th at the Mandalay Bay was previously floated, but won't work for Pacquiao's political schedule.
Pacquiao looked impressive in his last fight in April, returning from a layoff to knock down Timothy Bradley on his way to a unanimous decision. After the fight he wavered on his previous plans to retire.
Arum said a possible opponent for Pacquiao would be Jesse Vargas, who holds a piece of the welterweight title, but lost to Bradley two fights ago.
The veteran promoter had told BoxingScene.com's Ryan Burton a few days ago:
"He is going to fight. I don't know what the date is. He is working with the President of the Philippines senate for an appropriate date where he can leave the Philippines for two or three weeks to prepare for the fight. In any event he is going to have to do most of his preparation in the Philippines - you know after he sits in the senate - so it is going to be an interesting thing but definitely he is looking to come back and the question is how can we arrange it," Arum told BoxingScene.com.
