Pacquiao has been advised by his orthopedic doctor to take a long layoff from boxing to allow his repaired shoulder rotator cuff to completely heal. He was operated on by Dr. Neil ElAttrache of the Kerlan Jobe Orthoaedic Cinic in Los Angeles, a famous orthopedic surgeon in the US.
Pacquiao’s recurring shoulder pain became serious when he got himself re-injured in the fourth round of his “Fight of the Century” against unbeaten American boxer Floyd Mayweather. The super fight that garnered more than 4,000,000 pay-per-view buys and grossed over $500 million, the highest in boxing history.
Mayweather won the May 2, 2015 fight by a unanimous decision at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Less than two months after his surgery, Pacquiao has resumed his usual non-boxing-related activities which include his basketball coaching job for the Kia Carnival basketball team in the Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) and his resumption of his duties as the elected congressman of the lone district of Sarangani Province in Southern Philippines.
Pacquiao said he has already removed his sling which was used to protect his shoulder three weeks ago and he can now lift his arms gently.
“I have already removed the sling in my right arm three weeks ago and I can lift it na ng pakonti-konti. “I think mga two months pa, fully recovered na at puwede nang mag-ensayo muli, he said with a chuckle.” (I think two months more, I will be fully recovered and can start training again),
In Sarangani, where he spends most of his time while recuperating, he launched his so called “Bring Me” program aimed at uniting Christians and Muslims through bible sharing and peace-building.
“The project is kind of a sports-religious affair with attendees, both Christians and Muslims, engaged themselves in several sporting competitions like basketball, volleyball, chess, billiards, darts and even scrabble, tug-of-war, palo sebo and several more everyday,” Pacquiao’s close associate David Sisson told veteran Philboxing’s sports writer Eddie Alinea
“After the sports competitions, susundan ng (it will be followed by) Bible Study with both Christians and Muslims in attendance,” Benjamin “Choy” Garcia Garcia, who is Pacquiao’s close in security, said.
Pacquiao has yet to announce if he is pursuing his plan to run for senator in next year’s national elections or go for reelection as congressman of Sarangani.
Earlier Pacquiao has confirmed he is returning to the ring early next year, provided that his doctor will give him a clean bill of health. He has yet to name his next opponent but is hoping that Mayweather will give him a rematch.
