Manny Pacquiao set to return to Macau for November fight
Filipino's promoter says entertainment hub is likeliest destination for bout, with Juan Manuel Marquez the first choice opponent
Manny Pacquiao will return to the ring in November, most likely in Macau, and has signed a new two-year contract with promoter Bob Arum that could take him to the end of his career.
Arum said that Juan Manuel Marquez is his first choice for Pacquiao’s next fight, but other fighters – including Amir Khan – could be in the mix. A lot, he said, depends on whether Oscar De La Hoya emerges victorious in a power struggle within Golden Boy Promotions with his estranged CEO, Richard Schaefer.
“If Oscar takes over the company like he’s talking about, we’re open to those guys also,” Arum said. “The other guy [Schaefer] says he won’t deal with me, so we’ll see what Oscar says.”
Marquez moved into the picture for a fifth fight against Pacquiao with an impressive decision win Saturday over Mike Alvarado. Marquez, who knocked out Pacquiao the last time they met, is 1-2-1 against the Filipino fighter.
Pacquiao last fought April 12, beating Timothy Bradley in a rematch of Bradley’s controversial decision win in their first fight. He began his comeback from the Marquez loss last November, when he beat Brandon Rios in the first major fight card in Macau.
“We’re talking Macau tonight, that’s our first choice,” Arum said. “But there are other options. We’ll see what Vegas has to offer and there could be an offer from the Mideast. But it will probably be Macau.”