Manny Pacquiao’s return to the ring is being planned for Nov. 5 in Las Vegas, the fighter’s promoter said Monday. Bob Arum said a possible Oct. 29 date has been ruled out after discussions with both site representatives and Pacquiao, who recently began the first of a six-year term in the Philippines Senate.
MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and the Tomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas are in play to host the fight.
Former eight-division champion Pacquiao, 37, announced his retirement following his April 9 unanimous-decision victory over Timothy Bradley at MGM Grand, but, as veteran boxers do, he’s had a change of heart and would like to fight during an opening in his Senate workload.
Arum, while attending a media appearance with World Boxing Organization light-welterweight champion Terence Crawford on Monday in Hollywood, said Crawford, unbeaten World Boxing Council champion Viktor Postol and WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas are the top contenders to fight Pacquiao.