Los Angeles // Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao has delayed the planned announcement of his next opponent in what could be the final fight of his legendary career.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, said earlier this week that Pacquiao would reveal his next foe during cable network truTV’s coverage of a fight card in Puerto Rico featuring Filipino star Nonito Donaire.
But a spokesman for Arum, Fred Sternburg, told ESPN that Pacquiao, the only fighter to win world titles in eight different weight classes, is not yet ready to make a decision regarding who he will fight next in a card set for April 9, 2016, at Las Vegas.
Pacquiao, 57-6 with two drawn and 38 knockouts, turns 37 next Thursday and plans to run for a senate seat in the Philippines and retire from the ring to devote himself to work as a lawmaker. He is already a congressman in his homeland.
Possible opponents for Pacquiao include Tim Bradley, an American who is 33-1-1 with 13 knockouts who split two prior fights with “Pac Man”, and unbeaten American Terence Crawford, 27-0 with 19 knockouts.
Pacquiao underwent rotator cuff surgery after a unanimous decision loss to now-retired Floyd Mayweather last May.
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