Arum returns to US, mum on Pacquiao's chosen opponent

Boxing promoter Bob Arum quietly returned to the US on Saturday, opting to keep to himself as to who Manny Pacquiao had chosen for an opponent for the boxing superstar's first fight in 2012. The Top Rank Promotions chairman, however, admitted that he already had the fighter's name that Pacquiao personally handpicked from a short list that included the Sarangani Congressman's Mexican rival Juan Manuel Marquez, Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, and light welterweights Timothy Bradley and Lamont Peterson. The 80-year-old Arum said he would divulge the identity of Pacquiao's opponent next week. Arum plans to hold a press conference in the US to officially announce the winner of the Pacquiao sweepstakes. A source privy to the negotiations, however, said Floyd Mayweather Jr. was also among those considered and remained very much in the running when Pacquiao finally made his decision. Pacquiao said that he already chose an opponent during his commercial shoot for a leading cognac brand on Saturday at the Amateur Boxing Association of the Philippines (ABAP) Gym inside the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex. But the 33-year-old Filipino boxing icon also kept mum on his choice for an opponent. Arum is eyeing a June 2 or 9 ring return for Pacquiao. — JVP, GMA News