Manny Pacquiao claims that his shoulder is fully healed, but it will take doctors to affirm that claim. And, apparently, this is why the same people who worked on his injured rotator cuff will be re-examining him first before he is given the green light to fight Timothy Bradley Jr. in Las Vegas on April 9.
Check-ups will be done in Los Angeles, while Pacquiao will be doing his two-city promotional tour in Los Angeles and New York.
Dr. Neal ElAttrache will be one of the physicians to do the evaluation, but another one will be asked to do the same as well to satisfy the prerequisite set forth for all boxers fighting in the United States, as reported by Manila Bulletin.
Previous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results had already showed Pacquiao's right shoulder as fully healed, so most of the planned check-ups are likely formality and not something that would be a cause for alarm.
After the check-ups and promotional tour, Pacquiao is reportedly set to return to Manila. Adviser Michael Koncz does, however, say that there is no final word yet on where the Filipino boxer will be training.
If he, however, had a choice, Koncz believes that the best place for Pacquiao to train would be at his hometown, General Santos City.
There were plans for Pacquiao to do training in Baguio City or even Manila but Koncz believes that they can keep things under control if their boy trains in General Santos City.
Pacquiao is still considered a favorite against Bradley, although there have been changes on the side of both fighters.
Bradley displayed new vigor against Brandon Rios under the tutelage of Teddy Atlas recently. Some, however, believe that Rios was out of shape.
On the other hand, it will be interesting to see how Pacquiao performs after surgery on his shoulder. His last fight was against Floyd Mayweather Jr. back in May and everyone witnessed how the eight-time division champion had trouble unloading his punches.
