MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao sat down with his chief promoter Bob Arum yesterday in General Santos City but they left everything on the table regarding the Filipino boxing icon’s next fight.
“We had a very good discussion,” said Pacquiao’s chief adviser, Mike Koncz, who was at the meeting that took place at around noon and lasted more than two hours.
“But we haven’t made any decision,” he added.
Koncz did not reveal the details of the meeting, and said they all agreed to keep things from the media.
Arum arrived from Los Angeles Wednesday morning but almost at the same time the fighting congressman from Sarangani had to fly to General Santos City.
Arum went straight to Pacquiao in the latter’s home province yesterday morning. They flew back in Manila before nighttime, on board a private plane owned by Chavit Singson.
Koncz said Arum presented Pacquiao three names to choose from regarding his planned return to the ring on Nov. 10.
“The same three people,” said the Canadian ring adviser to Pacquiao, referring to Timothy Bradley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Miguel Cotto.
He was asked regarding the date of Pacquiao’s next fight, and he said, “Arum gave us November 10.”
Arum wants the said date for Pacquiao’s next fight following a disappointing and controversial loss to the undefeated Bradley last June 9.
Arum, who came to the Philippines with his wife, Lovee, said there’s not much time left although he didn’t press Pacquiao to decide yesterday.
The decision may come next week.
If Pacquiao will fight in November, Arum has to set everything up, get both fighters sign the contract and move on with the promotion.
But that’s unless Pacquiao has other things in mind.
In a recent chat with sportswriters, Pacquiao did not confirm nor deny whether he’s fighting in November.
“Wala pa. Wala pa (Nothing yet),” said Pacquiao, who said a few weeks back that he still prefers the fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
There’s word that people are on the move, trying to seal the superfight, and that Pacquiao is willing to wait past November if it’s the Mayweather fight.
Arum said the fight with Mayweather can’t happen this year because the American just got out of jail. He also added that he’s looking at April as the month for Pacquiao’s first fight in 2013.
