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Top Rank promoter Bob Arum says that he’s expecting Manny Pacquiao to return to action on April 14 at Madison Square Garden, with a formal announcement to come within the next few days.
“It will be on the same night Jeff Horn and Terence Crawford will fight for the (world welterweight title),” said Arum at the American Bank Center.
“We’re just waiting and we will do the announcement once Manny’s on board,” said the 86-year-old Arum.
Arum also said that if Pacquiao wins in April he’ll fight again this November, with trainer Freddie Roach indicating that a 140lb clash with Vasyl Lomachenko being the target.
“Lomachenko’s next fight will be at 135 lbs and he and Manny will meet at 140 (later in the year),” said the Wild Card Boxing Club guru.
Lomachenko’s manager Egis Klimas has expressed that their side isn’t exactly interested in a fight with Pacquiao — considering him an old man at this point — but Arum has since come out to clarify that it is his intention to stage that fight.
Obviously a lot can transpire between now and then, but at this point that’s where we’re at. We’ll just have to see how things progress.
Pacquiao is most recently coming off a rough and tumble fight with Jeff Horn last summer, losing his WBO title via controversial decision.