Manny Pacquiao hasn't decided when and who to fight next and this is making Top Rank big boss Bob Arum uneasy.
"There's just too much on his plate," Arum said yesterday from the US when asked about details on Pacquiao's ring return that will now have to be pushed to Dec. 1 since Nov. 10 is just around the corner.
Pacquiao is not only attending to his congressional duties nowadays, but he likewise presides over outreach programs, gospel-preaching and show business commitment during weekends. His mind is also torn by his future political plans as he decides whether to run for governor of Sarangani province in 2013 or seek another term as representative of the same province.
Arum sounded a bit disappointed that Pacquiao hasn't made his selection among three names that he mentioned: Tim Bradley of the US, Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico and Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico.
"I am also waiting for him to make a decision," said the 80-year-old Hall of Fame promoter, who travelled to General Santos City early this month to discuss with Pacquiao regarding their next move.
Pacquiao suffered a shocking and controversial 12-round split decision to Bradley last June 9 and while there is a rematch clause between them, the Filipino appears to be cool on the idea of facing someone many believed he had already beaten.
Besides, Pacquiao's fight with Bradley only garnered more than 700,000 buys on pay-per-view, figures that pale in comparison with his previous fights with marquee fighters that have grossed somewhere between 1.2 million to 1.4 million subscriptions.
Still, Arum made it clear that Pacquiao can afford to take rest of the year off.
"He is not obligated to fight," stressed Arum.
Word is that Pacquiao is not to keen on fighting again this year because of the risk of sustaining an injury that could jeopardize plans of pairing him with Floyd Mayweather Jr. in April or May next year, a bout that is expected to break all sorts of records.
After all, anything can happen inside the ring.
"If Manny doesn't want to fight this year, all he has to do is tell us," said Arum.
In the meantime, all Arum and the world have to do is wait.
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