MikeLigalig.com

By Eddie G. Alinea

Two and-a-half months before his supposed next fight on November 10, Filipino eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao remains undecided whether it will push through and who he will battle next following his disputed split decision loss to unbeaten American Timothy Bradley last June.

Gerry Penalosa, a former two-division titlist and one of Pacquiao’s close allies, assured though that his pal will be fighting on that date or before the year ends, contrary to reports that the former World Boxing Organization (WBO) kingpin is thinking of foregoing with the November outing and concentrate on luring the fresh-from-prison Floyd Mayweather Jr. to face him in a rich mega-confrontation.

“Lalaban si Manny before the end of the year,” Penalosa assured this writer in a telephone interview. “Ang makakalaban na lang ang di pa sigurado. Namimili pa.”

But if Penalosa is to be believed, the choice as his friend’s next dancing partner inside the square ring had been reduced between Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez and Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, both of whom Pacquiao had beaten before.

Pacquio beat Marquez twice in three meetings, while Cotto was disposed off via a 12th round knockout in a classic 2009 battle, which, incidentally was the Filipino’s last stoppage triumph.

“Si Bradley, and this is based on Manny’s body language lately, could be out of the equation kasi Manny believes he won that controversial bout against Bradley convincingly and, therefore, that doesn’t give the American the right for a rematch,” Penalosa explained.

Penalosa added that Bradley "still remains a poor opponent in terms of economics" as his controversial win failed to generate or paled in comparison to previous Pacquiao blockbuster bouts.

According to the former flyweight bantamweight belt-holder, if the choice is Marquez, the November 10 encounter could be at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, which Top Rank’s Bob Arum has already contracted barely days after the June 9 Pacquiao-Bradley fight.

If Pacquio opts for Cotto, he added the showdown should be held at on December 1 New York’s Madison Square Garden, a place the Filipino boxing hero hasn’t fought yet. A factor that goes for Cotto, who has a big following in the "city that never sleeps."

“Palagay ko yan ang situwasyon as of now although magbabago pa yan depende sa kung ano ang mangyayari sa mga susunod na araw,” Penalosa qualified though. “Marami kasing dapat mangyari, kasama na ang eleksyon next year when Manny is running for re-election.”

“In fact, Manny has scheduled a big fellowship meeting with Sarangani local politicians on Saturday in General Santos City where doon malalaman kung ano talaga ang gusto niyang takbuhin -- congressman o gobernador,” Penalosa disclosed.

The decision as to when will be Pacquio’s next fight and against whom was, for the nth time, was supposed to be known yesterday (Tuesday USA time), but Arum told the Los Angeles Times that he’s “still waiting to hear” from his ward of nearly a decade.

Arum said he remains in "conversations" with possible opponents, including Miguel Cotto, but gave little information beyond that, the L.A. Times reported.

"I can't go blabbing to the press, who will trust me?" Arum said. "I have no date set, nothing. This is what happens when you're dealing with a politician. Affairs of state come first."

Pacquiao, in a report emanating from his Canadian adviser Michael Koncz last week, was supposed to move his November outing to December, precisely because of his re-election bid. It was later on disputed by Arum who said the November 10 date will push through.

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