Boxing all abuzz on Manny’s return

Bob Arum should be happy that the boxing world, at least for now, is talking about Manny Pacquiao’s comeback fight, regardless of when, where and whom the Filipino senator is going to fight next.

It looks certain that Pacquiao will un-retire sooner than most people thought. If he fights again this year, it means he’d been out of boxing longer than when he was injured than retired.

Pacquiao’s comeback is in the news. Arum has mentioned Oct. 15, which was immediately shot down by the boxer, and is now looking at Oct. 29 or Nov. 5 as possible dates.

The 37-year-old Pacquiao is just warming up in his new role as a senator. He has denied reports he’s seeking a leave of absence from the Senate to fight again.

But he hinted that yes, he’d be fighting again, saying, “Should there be any (fight), I’ll make sure it will not interfere with my Senate duties,”

“He now has given us the goahead to shop for a venue and an opponent and see if we can do it on a particular date or dates,” Arum told The Guardian the other day.

“We’ve been trying to work out a date that doesn’t interfere with his senatorial responsibilities and his ability to train,” Arum said.

Pacquiao said if he’d fight again, he would train in the Philippines. He can toy with the idea of putting up a small training facility within the Senate premises.

There’s a list of boxers whom Pacquiao can fight next, and it’s not a short one.

There’s Terence Crawford, Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, Shawn Porter and Kelly Brook. Adrien Broner was a frontrunner but has priced himself out.

Being ruled out this early is a fourth match with Timothy Bradley or a fifth encounter with Juan Manuel Marquez.

Dan Rafael, the boxing guru from ESPN.com, said he’d fight Arum in the undercard if the Top Rank chief pits Pacquiao against Bradley anew.

Arum told FightHype.com a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr. was briefly on the table.

“We tried to make that fight for this year, the rematch, but (Mayweather adviser) Al (Haymon) told me that Floyd was happy in his retirement,” said Arum.

“And he had no intention to get back in the ring, at least this year... until Floyd tells Al Haymon he wants to come back, we have no sense in talking about a Mayweather fight,” Arum said.