KEY POINTS

  • Manny Pacquiao is planning a December or January boxing return
  • Pacquiao is open to a rematch against Yordenis Ugas
  • Sean Gibbons has a different proposal for the Filipino boxer’s farewell fight

Manny Pacquiao is not putting an end to his illustrious boxing career just yet.

Following the upset loss to WBA welterweight champion Yordenis Ugas last month, some boxing personalities and fans have written Pacquiao off, implying the Filipino boxer should finally have the gloves.

However, according to his personal assistant David Sisson, “Pac-Man” has no plans of calling it a career. In fact, he is already eyeing a “December” or “early January” ring return.

“Most likely a December fight, if not then early January,” Sisson wrote on Twitter as a response to Philstar.com’s Dino Maragay’s query about Pacquiao’s next plan.

Pacquiao will be 43 years old on December 17, but based on his post-fight comments about Ugas, it is crystal clear that the desire to redeem himself and compete at the highest level is still there.

"In my entire career, [Yordenis] Ugas was one of the easiest opponents," Pacquiao assessed. "[Ugas] only had one style, and I should've been able to easily move away, you've seen how I have moved in my fights before. I couldn't move in this fight. My legs just stopped."

"I can come back in January,” he added. “I will see about it. I know I can rematch [Ugas] if I want.”

A deflated Pacquiao said afterwards he will take his time before deciding on his future
A deflated Pacquiao said afterwards he will take his time before deciding on his future AFP / Patrick T. FALLON

While Pacquiao remains open for a rematch against Ugas, his adviser and MP Promotions executive Sean Gibbons, meanwhile, has a completely different idea for his next fight.

According to Gibbons, if the world’s only eight-division titlist is to fight for the last time, he deserves a “proper send-off” and Ugas is certainly not in the conversation.

In lieu of the Cuban boxer, Gibbons proposed that the said farewell fight should be against a big-name opponent who is “solid,” but yet Pacquiao can still “pound to the ground” with ease.

“The senator [Pacquiao] needs a proper send-off, a tribute to a long, beautiful, and illustrious Hall of Fame career against a solid opponent whom he should pound to the ground,” Gibbons said last month. “It should be like a big gala type, a celebration of the Senator’s career.”

“We never ever need to see Ugas again. In his [Pacquiao’s] prime, the Senator would’ve spanked Ugas and it would’ve been like Ugas fighting three Manny Pacquiao's at the same time because [there’s] no way he could’ve kept up with his speed and movement.”

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