MANILA, Philippines - Bob Arum has got Manny Pacquiao’s plans, both short- and long-term, all figured out.
Just outside of the Madeo Restaurant on glitzy Beverly Boulevard, the 81-year-old CEO of Top Rank, Inc. told TMZ Sports that up next for Pacquiao is a fifth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.
If it happens, it should happen mid or late 2013 because Pacquiao, who was knocked out cold by Marquez last Dec. 8 in Las Vegas, is serving a mandatory 120-day suspension from the Nevada Athletic Commission.
This means that the earliest Pacquiao could return to the ring, and try to avenge that knockout to Marquez, is in April.
But there’ve been suggestions coming from Arum and Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach that the Filipino superstar who lost both his two fights in 2012 should wait until September.
Pacquiao has cleared the tests, a CT scan and an MRI exam, days after the fight but Arum is insisting for his boxer to undergo a more extensive brain check at the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas.
Arum wants a clean bill of health for Pacquiao before they start negotiating for a fifth fight.
Marquez said he hasn’t made up his mind yet whether he would fight again, saying the decision is for his entire family and team members to make.
But it would be foolish for him to turn down a fifth fight with Pacquiao. For the fourth one, the 39-year-old Mexican made around $8 million, but for a fifth fight he should earn much more.
Show him the money and he’d fight Pacquiao on New Year’s Day.
Arum said Pacquiao isn’t done yet.
“No,” said the energetic boxing promoter who has an estimated net worth of $200 million. He’s been in the business for almost half a century, and has made some of history’s great fights.
“Pacquiao is now in Israel (vacationing) and he’ll be coming back and I think we can do another fight with Juan Manuel Marquez,” he told TMZ Sports.
“That was a great (fifth) fight and he ran into a really good right hand and we’ll see what happens next time,” Arum added.
The Harvard lawyer who once worked for the US Attorney’s Office under the JFK administration isn’t looking forward to a fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year.
“Probably not but you know life goes on,” he said.
He knows Pacquiao’s every move, and outside the boxing ring, right on top is the boxer’s bid for re-election as congressman in his province of Sarangani.
“Yeah he’s running for congress and he should be elected next May for another term,” said Arum.
“Then he’ll run for Senate in three years and who knows by 2022 he might be the President,” added the ageless promoter.
Then he went to dine with his wife Lovee.