Filipino boxing icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao will forget basketball for now, and turns his attention to training for the rubber match of a rivalry with current World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Timothy Bradley Jr.
Pacquiao, who waited for months before announcing his opponent, selected Bradley for his swan song which will be held in Las Vegas, Nevada on April 9.
To fully prepare for the third installment of their rivalry, Pacquiao plans to skip playing in the new season of the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) that is set to begin on Feb. 10.
Pacquiao is currently listed as a playing coach for the PBA team Mahindra Enforcer, formerly known as Kia Sorento and Kia Carnival.
"I won't be playing until after the fight," Pacquiao told Filipino sportswriters, according to Inquirer.com.
Pacquiao attended the press conference for the fight and helped promote it last week before leaving New York City last Friday, according to Inquirer.com. The boxier is set to arrive in his hometown, General Santos City, on Sunday.
Once in General Santos City, Pacquiao will train with assistant trainer Buboy Fernandez, before his head coach, Freddie Roach, arrives on either Feb. 13 or 14, the report added.
Recently, Pacquiao confirmed that the third fight with Bradley is the last in his career as he wants to help the Philippines as a senator.
In a report by BoxingScene.com, the 37-year-old also said he wants to end his career in a good way and is still astonished of everything he accomplished in the sport, including the feat of being the only eight-division champion in boxing.
Pacquiao currently holds a 57–6–2 (38 knockouts) record and aims to return on the winning track after falling to another rival, Floyd Mayweather Jr., last May in his previous fight.
Since Bradley is a current champion, Pacquiao's fight with him will have a title on the line.
