Manny Pacquiao
Filipino boxing superstar Manny Pacquiao smiles as he speaks to the media after watching the exhibition of Philippine Gold "Treasures of Forgotten Kingdoms" in New York, October 12, 2015. Boxing great Manny Pacquiao attended a news conference after attending an exhibition of Philippine gold at the Asia Society in New York. Pacquiao recently announced he is running for a Senate seat in the Philippines national elections next year. Reuters/Eduardo Munoz

Manny Pacquiao is ready to get back to the boxing gym saying that he’s nearly healthy from a shoulder injury he suffered during the training camp for the Floyd Mayweather fight last May. The Filipino boxer also stated that he’s scheduled for a November or December return to boxing training and appears to be on track for the rumoured fight against a still unknown opponent right around the first quarter of 2016.

"My shoulder is 80 to 90 percent healed and I believe I can start training in November or December so I can fight early next year," Pacquiao told the New York Daily News.

Pacquiao lost via a 12-round unanimous decision victory to Mayweather in the “Fight of the Century” at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada but the Filipino blamed his injured shoulder for the lack of action and his poor performance against the undefeated American.

Mayweather has recently officially retired from the sport after defeating Andre Berto last September. There are rumours of a Mayweather-Pacquiao rematch but Top Rank Promotions boss Bob Arum denied that talks are happening. In other interviews, the promoter admitted that they are talking with Amir Khan’s camp for a probable Pacquiao vs Khan match-up in 2016.

For his part, Khan admitted that he has no problem facing the Pacquiao, whom he considers as a friend. Khan and Pacquiao were former spar-mates in Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles in previous years.

In the same interview, Pacquiao stated that nothing is set yet for his 2016 fight but admitted that Khan is one of the names being considered. Pacquiao, who is an elected congressman, also discussed his senatorial bid in the Philippine elections in May next year.

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