Pacman’s U-turn

LOS ANGELES. — Filipino boxing star Manny Pacquiao plans to come out of retirement to fight, his promoter said on Tuesday, though the boxer said no fight has yet been set.

Bob Arum told American sports broadcaster ESPN that the former welterweight champion plans to fight on either October 29 or November 5 as a main event bout in Las Vegas as long as it doesn’t clash with his senate duties in the Philippines. No opponent has been named thus far.

“Manny wants to come back,” Arum said. “The problem is he can only come back if it doesn’t interfere with his senate duties.” Arum had previously planned an October 15 fight in Mandalay Bay Events Center, but scrapped it due to upcoming votes in the senate in Pacquiao’s native Philippines.

“The question is building availability because we want to do the fight in Las Vegas,” Arum said about the new dates.

Arum said the most difficult part of setting up a fight is working around the boxer’s busy political schedule.

“He now has given us the go-ahead to shop for a venue and an opponent and see if we can do it on a particular date or dates,” Arum said.

“We’ve been trying to work out a date that doesn’t interfere with his senatorial responsibilities and his ability to train.” — AFP.