Another ‘Thrilla’ in Manila?

MANILA, Philippines - Winning, not retirement, will be in Manny Pacquiao’s mind when he climbs the ring against Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2 in Las Vegas.

His promoter, Bob Arum, can’t predict the future. But one thing he knows is that Pacquiao will keep on fighting until he can’t.

“Who knows what the future holds?” Arum told The STAR in a brief phone interview the other day.

“But if I had to guess I think he will continue fighting until the end of 2016,” added Arum, who can see a couple more fights for Pacquiao.

Pacquiao’s contract with Top Rank is good until the end of 2016, and that’s good for two or three more fights after this one.

If successful in May, the 36-year-old Pacquiao will most likely face Mayweather in a rematch later this year.

Arum said they’re not getting ahead of the May showdown and is not making any plans regarding Pacquiao’s next fight.

“We’re focusing on this fight in May. It’s not necessarily Macau for Pacquiao (later this year),” he added.

There’s a possibility that if Pacquiao beats Mayweather, he will gain control of the negotiations and demand for the rematch to be held in Manila.

That should be another “thrilla.”

“What I know is that before Manny retires he wants to fight one more time in the Philippines,” said Arum.

“But we’re not making plans yet,” he added.

Pacquiao, a two-term congressman, has plans of seeking higher office in 2016, and elections are held in the month of May.

Arum was in Macau for the Zou Shiming fight that did not end the way most people had anticipated when the Chinese superstar lost to Thailand’s Amnat Ruenroeng. (Story below)

Arum was scheduled to fly out of Macau yesterday to hook up with Pacquiao in Los Angeles in time for the formal press conference with Mayweather on March 11.

Pacquiao is not talking about retirement unless he is asked.

But nobody knows what might happen in May.