Just over a month later, Pacquiao won election to the Senate with 11 other countrymen, and the workload of those politicians in Manila is far heavier than the duties previously required of Pacquiao in the role of congressman, which he had held since 2010.

Yet, after looking sharp in his comeback from a shoulder injury that preceded his record-selling loss to unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jnr last year, the lure of a Mayweather rematch or another major fight against someone such as Saul “Canelo” Alvarez tugs.

“My counsel to Manny is to take some weeks and see the commitment of a senator, and how much time it will take and whether it leaves time for him to train for a fight,” Arum said. “If the answer is that it’s too time-consuming and overwhelming, that solves the problem.

“If no, he can find time to train, and he wants to, then the question is, ‘Do you want to fight?’ If the answer is yes, then I’ll make him a fight.”

Although Arum recently settled a federal lawsuit against Mayweather’s powerful manager, Al Haymon, that could help ease rematch negotiations that were so difficult last time, Arum speculated that Mayweather, 39, wants to stay retired with his 49-0 record.

“I have been informed by reliable sources on that side that Mayweather has no desire to fight anybody,” Arum said.

Although Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said he thought it “interesting” that Mayweather has twice visited Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood during the last month, Arum said, “Mayweather is a genius at promotion and publicity. He doesn’t want to give up the limelight, and doing things like that keep him in the limelight … in my opinion.”