Pacquiao's next fight set Oct. 17

Manny Pacquiao has personally given word to Top Rank to schedule his next fight on Oct. 17.

The name of the opponent and the venue have yet to be determined although a clearer picture of what’s on the horizon for the Filipino pound-for-pound would likely be painted by Top Rank head Bob Arum by the end of June.

Pacquiao is coming off a second-round knockout of Ricky Hatton of England and is just keenly awaiting the outcome of two major bouts involving potential foes scheduled within the next nine weeks before coming up with a more detailed account of his much-awaited return to the ring.

On June 13, Miguel Cotto of Puerto Rico faces Joshua Clottey of Ghana in New York, while Floyd Mayweather Jr. of the US meets Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico on July 18 in Las Vegas.

Arum said he can’t afford to wait for the result of the July 18 bout and is poised to make a decision regarding the identity of Pacquiao’s next rival, the date and place by the end of next month.

Arum and Pacquiao might be forced to wrap everything up in the event a scenario being played out — a huge Cotto victory over Clottey — happens according to script.

Madison Square Garden in New York is being eyed by Arum to host Pacquiao-Cotto considering the large Puerto Rican population in the Big Apple. Pacquiao hasn’t fought in New York and actually dreams of fighting in the world’s most famous arena.

But if Clottey upsets Cotto, which is not a remote possibility given Clottey’s sterling credentials, Team Pacquiao and Arum might be forced to wait a while for Mayweather-Marquez.

Pacquiao will be at ringside when Cotto slugs with Clottey as he will receive his second Fighter of the Year award from the Boxing Writers Association of America banquet the night before at the Capitale, a classy dining haven in Manhattan’s Lower East Side offering American Nouveau cuisine.

Source: http://www.mb.com.ph/node/201708