The countdown on the end of Manny Pacquiao’s historic boxing career is officially underway.More than 21 years after turning pro in the past in 1995, the previous eight-division champ will fight for which could be the final amount of time in his Hall of Fame-bound career on April 9 at MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The event will use a familiar foe, because the wildly popular southpaw from Philippines will face Timothy Bradley Jr. for the third time.
Manny Pacquiao 2nd day of training for Pacquiao vs Bradley 3
"The deal is within place," Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum told BoxingScene.com. "Manny continues to have to announce it, that will come (soon)."
The bout may come two years – almost towards the day – after their April ’14 rematch, where Pacquiao claimed a unanimous decision win to regain his welterweight title. The feat avenged an extremely questionable loss he suffered to Bradley of their June ’12 clash.
Each on the previous two affairs together were staged at MGM Grand, that will now play host to Pacquiao’s 10th consecutive Las Vegas-based fight. The event will air on HBO Pay-Per-View, his eighth straight when he and Bradley square off in April and 26th career appearance between HBO as well as its PPV arm.
The fight are going to be Pacquiao’s first (and potentially last) ring appearance since losing a unanimous decision to Floyd Mayweather inside their long-awaited – but ultimately disappointing – superfight the 2009 May. The five-year delay in establishing the sport’s two biggest stars as well as boxers from the ring proved definitely worth the wait coming from a financial standpoint, establishing records with the live gate and Pay-Per-View sales that may likely do not be broken.
Mayweather followed up the win using a final encore of his personal, a 12-round shutout of Andre Berto before electing to refer to it as a wrap on his or her own incredible career. The undefeated boxer decided on top, get the job done event proved underwhelming.
Pacqauiao, meanwhile, was expected to sit for the sidelines for that remained of 2015. The most belted fighter in boxing history – winning lineal championships and major titles inside a record eight weight divisions – reportedly suffered a shoulder injury prior towards the Mayweather fight, that she reaggravated through the bout itself.
During his downtime, that it was decided that you more fight was necessary before opting to pursue a full-time career in politics. Already a congressman inside the Philippine province of province of Sarangani, Pacquiao has officially entered the race for one on the 12 Senate seats under his independent political party, the aptly named People’s Champ Movement.
Whereas he might go back and forth between roles to be a boxing superstar and Philippines congressman, manning a senatorial seat is usually a full-time job. As such, Pacquiao will forget the sport that made him richer plus more popular beyond his wildest dreams.
Still, the presentation is being sold within the merits on the rivalry and Pacquiao’s star power, less a farewell tour.
“We won’t flip it as Manny’s final fight,” Arum told BoxingScene.com on Tuesday. “We won’t do that with the simple fact that – anything can happen. Sure, it could actually very well be his last ever fight. But should he turnaround one day and say he would like to fight again, we're going to look like a number of hucksters in selling your dream that way.
“I don’t want anyone accusing us of attempting to tug for the heartstrings and claim this will it be for Manny. Say as an example, if Floyd Mayweather decides he would like to have an additional fight, he’ll should explain why he’s finding their way back after claiming he was over after the (Andre) Berto fight. We’re not about to put Manny for the reason that position.”
Regardless, it’s no guarantee that she comes out victorious on April 9.
In choosing Bradley (33-1-1, 13KOs), he lands a reborn two-time welterweight titlist who remains one of many world’s best fighters, no matter weight-class. The always-sculpted boxer is originating off of a 9th round knockout wow Brandon Rios in November, his first fight under new trainer Teddy Atlas after a messy split from longtime chief second Joel Diaz.
The addition of Atlas adds a fresh dimension in an old rivalry, whether or not news in the fight itself isn’t being overwhelmingly embraced nor can it be immediately known if Bradley’s welterweight title will probably be at stake. The belt he reclaimed in June now carries an overdue mandatory title defense versus Sadam Ali, who with the moment doesn’t seem thinking about having to just as before step aside.
Talk has now surfaced of Ali possibly facing Jessie Vargas in the vacant welterweight title fight, which presented an earlier warning sign that Bradley was gonna land the coveted assignment. The 32-year old from Palm Springs was considered one of three final candidates named to land your struggle with Pacquiao. Also included for the short list was unbeaten two-division champ Terence Crawford. Pacquiao, Bradley and Crawford are common promoted by Top Rank.
In that regard, Amir Khan was always viewed to be a longshot on the list of trio previously named as would be a late entrant in Adrien Broner. The four-division title claimant was contacted by Pacquiao’s chief adviser, Michael Koncz prior on the winter holidays. No sooner was he mentioned as potential candidate was he immediately dismissed from your running.
“The proven fact that Broner can market tickets and Pay-Per-View buys along with his mouth and trash talking, truth be told, is ludicrous,” Arum told BoxingScene.com from the brash boxer from Cincinnati, who in conjunction with Khan is recommended by Al Haymon, with whom Top Rank currently is embroiled within a $100 million lawsuit.
Pacquiao and Khan were former training stablemates, as both trained for decades under the tutelage of Hall of Fame cornerman Freddie Roach outside of his Wild Card Gym in Hollywood.
Khan has since progressed, relocating his training headquarters for the Bay Area where furthermore seeks corner advice from Virgil Hunter. Pacquiao and Roach remain together, as boxing’s dynamic duo has become together since 2001.
Over the period, Pacquiao – for the time an ancient World flyweight champ – added titles in seven weight classes, beginning in reference to his stateside breakthrough performance. Accepting assignment to be a late sub, Pacquiao scored a stupendous 6th round knockout of then-top rated super bantamweight champ Lehlo Ledwaba in Las Vegas to emerge as being a fighter to observe.
The win came for the undercard connected with an HBO Pay-Per-View telecast headlined by Oscar de la Hoya. The two were six weight classes apart in the time as de la Hoya added the super welterweight title to his arsenal using a 12-round conquer Javier Castillejo. They would meet in excess of seven years later, with Pacquiao forcing de la Hoya to stop on his stool after eight shockingly one-sided rounds of their Dec. ‘08 welterweight clash.
A title wasn’t stake from the fight, even so the feat itself saw Pacquiao’s status advance from boxing star to worldwide superstar. He would continue to make history, collecting a fourth World (lineal) championship as part of his next fight – a 2nd round knockout of Ricky Hatton in May ‘09 – then a welterweight-title winning 12th round knockout of Miguel Cotto that following November.
The make an impression on Cotto gave Pacquiao a title inside a record-breaking seventh weight class, adding an excellent welterweight belt to his arsenal having a 12-round make an impression on Antonio Margarito within their Nov. ’10 catchweight bout in Dallas, Texas.
Just eight fights have followed after that, all going on in either Las Vegas or Macau, China, and against only six different opponents. Two from the eight were against another longtime rival in Juan Manuel Marquez, because of their third and fourth fights occurring over that stretch. Pacquiao occurred to a draw into their epic first fight in 2004 before scoring narrow wins in 2008 and again this year.
By any time of his fourth fight with Marquez, Pacquiao was an ex-champion to be a result from the controversial loss to Bradley a few months prior. After three debatable decisions featured in their rivalry with Marquez, a definitive ending was delivered into their final bout – with Pacquiao suffering a shocking one-punch 6th round knockout loss.
The setback was met having a delay, but also with the opportunity to help Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum launch his boxing business in Macau. Pacquiao’s ring return came 11 months later at resort location, outpointing Rios in Nov. ’13. It was viewed a high-profile tune-up fight, enough to have him back from the win column plus line to reclaim his old title. He did simply that in his wow Bradley of their second fight.
Despite their series knotted at one apiece, there is never much demand for any third fight. It can be argued that such demand still hasn’t materialized, although recent changes endured by both fighters – in and out on the ring – potentially change that viewpoint.
Whatever the situation, the mystery is currently solved inside particulars around the 66th – and perchance final - fight of Pacquiao’s historic career.
“Whether it’s the last fight, or “just” his next fight, we are about to pull out all in the stops and treat it as being a big event,” Arum informed BoxingScene.com. “We’re about to dress this with all with the bells and whistles, placed on a strong undercard and provide it because first truly big PPV event of 2016.
“If it’s his last fight, then Manny will then announce his retirement afterward. We’re not about to make how the focal point. It’s an excellent fight between two outstanding gentlemen who represent the adventure – in and out from the ring – with class.”
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