While Pacquiao is all set to return to the ring in the last quarter of the year, he will have to reset his next fight for second quarter of next year—possibly in May 2016—as his orthopedic doctor advised him to rest for at least nine months.
Pacquiao, who lost to Mayweather last May 2 by a unanimous decision, had to undergo major surgery to fix a torn right shoulder rotator cuff,
Surgeon Neal ElAttrache, who performed the surgery expects Pacquiao to fully recover from his injury in nine to 12 months. He said Pacquiao can resume training six months after surgery.
Pacquiao, who returned to the Philippines on Wednesday wearing a shoulder brace and arm sling, suffered bleeding on his injured shoulder forcing him to postpone his trip to his hometown of General Santos City.
Assuming Pacquiao can recover from his shoulder injury in nine months, he should be in a training mode by the first quarter of next year in time for a possible rematch against Mayweather in May 2016.
There are talks that the rematch will take place at the new MGM-AEG Arena which is under construction and slated to open in early 2016. The Arena can accommodate 20,000 people.
Richard Johnson of pagesix.com writes: “’It’s already being negotiated,’ a source told me. Pacquiao needs four months of rehab post-surgery, and three months to train. “The fight will be the first event at the under-construction MGM–AEG Arena set to open next year.
“All the parties involved deny talks are under way, but I’m told Pacquiao wants redemption. ‘He feels he fought with only one arm,’ said one insider. Mayweather will do it for the money.”
The Mayweather-Pacquio fight has reportedly generated 4.4 million pay-per-view buys worth more than $400 million, the highest in boxing history.
It is almost unthinkable that Mayweather — despite his denial that he will give Pacquiao a rematch — will turn his back to another financial windfall that could still break the records established in the first fight.
There are indications that fans want to see a closure to the long-runining Mayweather-Pacquiao saga as new information are being disclosed that Pacquiao had indeed fought Mayweather using only one arm because of his right shoulder injury,
Meanwhile, Mayweather is set to return to the ring in September to fulfill his contractual obligation with CBS/Showtime for his $200 million six-fight contract with company.
The unbeaten fighter has not named his next opponent but British fighter Amir Khan has been mentioned as one of the short-listed candidates. Khan is set to face former Pacquiao foe Chris Algieri on May 29 at the Barclays Center in New York.
