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Is Manny Pacquiao set to fight again in October?

By Nick Tylwalk

April 9, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Manny Pacquiao reacts following his victory against Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
April 9, 2016; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Manny Pacquiao reacts following his victory against Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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Not that boxing retirements usually mean much anyway, but Manny Pacquiao could be set to end an extremely short one this fall.

Boxing rumors are a dime a dozen, especially when it comes to the biggest names in the sport. Once dates start getting reserved at specific venues, though, they inevitably get bumped up to the next level of believability.

Thus, it’s getting easier to believe that Manny Pacquiao isn’t going to stay retired for long after all. The multiple division Filipino champion certainly made it seem like he was hanging up the gloves after winning his rubber match with Timothy Bradley in April.

Yet the Los Angeles Times reported today that promoter Bob Arum and Top Rank have reserved Mandalay Bay for October 15, anticipating that Pacquiao will resume his in-ring career. There’s still some uncertainty involved, because it’s Manny, and he’s got his Senate responsibilities in his home country to juggle.

“He doesn’t know,” Arum said to the Times. “He has to see what committees he has, what kind of hearings he has.”

Also up in the air: exactly who Pacquiao would fight. The buzz over the last week has been about a showdown with the flamboyant Adrien Broner. But the report suggests undefeated Terence “Bud” Crawford is actually the front-runner, provided he wins his July 23 bout against Viktor Postol.

It’s also a little unusual for Pac-Man to be plying his trade at Mandalay Bay instead of MGM Grand, where he’s fought in his last 10 Las Vegas appearances. A glance at Ticketmaster finds that Jimmy Buffett may already have the venue tied up, necessitating a visit by Manny to a building he last graced during his June 2008 thrashing of David Diaz.

Regardless of the circumstances, Pacquiao looked good enough in his defeat of Bradley to think that he’s still got some fights left against top level competition should he want them. It appears for the moment he does, meaning his current retirement is only going to last about six months.

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