Arum: Pacquiao to fight again in November; Mayweather not on list

After his stunning split-decision loss to Timothy Bradley Saturday (Sunday, PHL time), Filipino boxing icon and Sarangani Representative Manny Pacquiao will take to the ring again in November, but not necessarily against Bradley. Fight promoter Bob Arum said Monday in an interview on dzBB radiot that it was still not clear at this time whether Pacquiao would face Bradley in November, although he has the right to invoke a rematch against him. “What happens next, Manny’s going to fight again in November. He has the right to invoke a rematch against Bradley,” Arum said. He said he will have to “talk it over” with Pacquiao, adding that Team Pac-Man may either opt to have his rematch against Bradley or do a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez. On the other hand, Arum said Floyd Mayweather Jr., who has repeatedly challenged Pacquiao to a bout, is not likely to be among the options for Pacquiao’s November bout. “He [Mayweather] probably won’t be ready until next year. He’s spending time in prison,” he said. Arum reiterated he thought Pacquiao should have won the fight. “Everyone saw the same fight except the three judges apparently. He clearly won the fight and everybody including Bradley was astounded when they heard the decision,” he said. He also brushed off claims Pacquiao should retire, saying he thought Pacquiao was “superb” in his fight against Bradley. On the other hand, Arum said Pacquiao handled the decision correctly, by saying he respected it but still believed he won. “He said the decision went for Bradley but he felt he won the fight and gave a good performance and everyone agrees with him ... He’s shown what a true sportsman [is] by the way he’s handled it,” Arum said. - AMD, GMA News