Arum confirms Pacquiao to fight again in fall 2016

Eight-division title holder Manny Pacquiao is definitely fighting again in 2016, although the senator insisted last week he would not go on leave to train for the boxing match. Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions, confirmed over the weekend Pacquiao leaving retirement for a fight in fall.

However, Arum is still negotiating who Pacquiao would face in the ring. But definitely, Adrien Broner is out of the picture for pricing himself out of the match, says Arum, reports USA Today Sports.

Among the boxers that Top Rank is considering are Terence Crawford and Viktor Postol. Arum says they will announce Pacquiao’s foe on July 23 after the HBO PPV fight on who would get the junior welterweight unification title.

Another boxer being considered is Jessie Vargas, a welterweight title holder, reports Badlefthook. But Arum denies that Top Rank is offering Danny Garcia $3-4 million to fight Pacquiao.

Arum says neither he nor Pacquiao could afford the fee that Broner is asking. “We looked to give him a very good upside [of the PPV sales]. He wants a very unreasonable guarantee and I can’t pay it and Manny can’t take that risk,” says the promoter. But Arum stresses, “I won’t say that Broner is right or wrong. That’s his position. It’s business,” quotes Pep.ph.

Arum says a training camp would be set up in the Philippines so Pacquiao could train here before he flies to the US to train with coach Freddie Roach. Although the definite venue is still under negotiations, Arum says it would be in Las Vegas.

“Manny is definitely coming back,” Arum says. However, for some Filipinos who were against voting Pacquaio for a Senate seat because of his poor attendance in the Lower House due to trainings for boxing matches, Arum’s statement does not sit well with them.

VIDEO: Manny Pacquiao ending retirement to fight again, likely in November (2016)