Boxing icon Manny Pacquiao announced last April that he is retiring after he defeated American professional boxer Timothy Bradley during their third fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Here's some good news for boxing fans: Pacquiao, who is also now a Philippine senator, will come out of his retirement and return to the boxing ring on Nov. 5.
Pacquiao's promoter, Top Rank chairman Bob Arum, told USA Today Sports, that about four months from now, the Filipino boxer will fight a still unknown opponent at the Thomas & Mack Center on the campus of the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Arum shared that he wanted the bout to be at least a month earlier, but had to consider Pacquiao's schedule as a senator.
Arum originally set the match at the MGM Grand on Oct. 15, but Pacquiao still has to attend to his work at the Philippine Senate by that time. He also proposed that the boxing fight be held on Oct. 29, but this schedule will still be in conflict with Pacquiao's schedule as a lawmaker.
Ultimately, Pacquiao's match was set on Nov. 5, but the MGM Grand is not available on this date. This prompted Arum to book the Thomas & Mack Center at the UNLV.
"We were fortunate to learn that the UNLV basketball team was booked for an exhibition game on Nov. 5, which they are prepared to move a day or two earlier," Arum told USA Today Sports.
"We're planning for a really big card for Nov. 5, and it will be a nice show and Wynn Resorts will be the host property," he added.
With the date and place for the fight set, the next question is: Who will Pacquiao be facing off with in his out-of-retirement fight? Arum said the Filipino boxer's opponent may be WBO welterweight titlist Jessie Vargas.
Another possible opponent for Pacquiao is Terence Crawford, who recently defeated Viktor Postol to become the unified WBC junior welterweight champion.
