Manny Pacquiao, following his defeat to Floyd Mayweather in May, has said he will be returning to the ring in 2016. The Filipino icon’s torn rotator cuff is apparently on the mend and will not prevent the fighter from stepping back inside the squared circle.
“I’m ready to fight, next year. I’m fine,” he said on Viva.co.id, while visiting Indonesia recently to aid a woman facing the death penalty after being convicted of drug trafficing.
Pacquiao has also responded to Floyd Mayweather’s viral video which sees the pound for pound fighter taunting him in wake of the shoulder injury revelation.
“A real champion is gracious in both his words and conduct, someone who is a champion, not just in his chosen field of endeavor but in his own home and in his private life,” Pacquiao told PhilBox.com.
Decide for yourself who is acting like the dummy below:
In other news, WBC Heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder will be making his second defense on September 26th. The fight will likely be televised on NBC, with Birmingham, Alabama rumored to host the showdown.
Opponents are anyone’s guess at the moment, but there is also another rumor floating around that Chris Arreola could be playing dance partner. Read into it what you will – but please join us in praying Wilder’s team find a ‘more suited’ opponent. Arreola is a capable fighter, but nowhere near a legitimate threat.
Arreola has been beaten twice by Bermane Stiverne – whom Wilder outclassed to capture the WBC title in January – and would only be raising pulses of those residing into Wilder’s hometown Alabama.
Wilder (34-0, 33 KO) recently tore up – well, eventually – an over-matched Eric Molina in June. If a credible opponent like Lucas Browne (22-0, 19 KO) were to be announced then, along with Klitschko vs Fury in October, late 2016 could prove tasty for Heavyweight fans.
Will Pacquiao make a successful comeback post Mayweather? Will Wilder face another unworthy challenger to his WBC crown? Let us know your thoughts.
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