Pacquiao MRI a success

MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao underwent MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) on his right shoulder last night and headed straight to a basketball game after the procedure that lasted less than an hour.

According to a Team Pacquiao insider, the eight-division world champion went to the Cardinal Santos Medical Center in San Juan a little past 7 p.m. for the MRI.

It was a success, according to the boxer himself.

“Thank you to all the doctors. Very good progress. Successful MRI on my shoulder,” said Pacquiao in an Instagram post after the procedure.

He was out of the hospital in an hour.

Pacquiao posted pictures of him posing with the doctors and staff of the hospital, and with his back against the wall, his right arm being held in an L position.

Another picture showed Pacquiao as he lay on his back, his body covered in a gray blanket, and about to go through the MRI machine.

It’s been over four months since he fought Floyd Mayweather Jr. Four days after the fight, he underwent surgery in Los Angeles for a torn rotator cuff on his right shoulder.

Pacquiao has recovered well on his own and the past few weeks he’d been on the basketball court.

In a pick-up game with his PBA team Kia three weeks ago, he scored 19 points, hitting five three-pointers. He’s also back playing billiards and target shooting.

From the hospital, Pacquiao proceeded to the Village Sports Club in BF Homes in Parañaque, saying he wanted to play basketball, according to the insider.

The results of the MRI will be relayed to his doctors in LA and his promoter, Bob Arum, first thing in the morning today.

Arum said Pacquiao needed the MRI before they can proceed with the talks for his next fight.

Amir Khan, always longing for the big fight, may end up facing Pacquiao early next year, and it could happen in February or April.

Arum, has ruled out March as the date because no way they’re going to compete with the madness of the NCAA.

“We were planning for Manny Pacquiao to fight at the end of February, or at the latest, the first two weeks in April,” Arum told Gareth Davie of The Telegraph.

“March is out of the question because of a big college basketball tournament in the United States. That gets all the ink at the time,” said Arum.

Pacquiao has told Arum that he wants his fight done before the second week of April because of his plans to run in the Philippine elections in May.

Just a couple of weeks ago, the 83-year-old promoter mentioned a handful names as Pacquiao’s possible opponent early next year.