Pacquiao moves on, plans return in April

The world - his world to be precise - didn't come to an end two weeks ago in Las Vegas.
Manny Pacquiao has moved on following his shocking knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez last Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand and the Filipino icon told the Bulletin on Saturday afternoon that it was a blessing that he was already up and about shortly after being counted out.
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"It could have been worse and I could have been in serious trouble," Pacquiao said in Pilipino as he was relaxing in his Forbes Park home.
Since it was just one punch - a right counter from Juan Manuel Marquez - that dealt him his most devastating defeat, Pacquiao reasoned out that he was even grateful that he didn't get the chance to face the furious fists of the Mexican.
"If I had the strength to get up at that time, I would have fought back with Marquez and I would probably have received more punches," said Pacquiao, who turned 34 last Dec. 17.
Pacquiao said that had it not been for that one perfect punch Marquez threw in the dying seconds of the sixth round of their welterweight war, he would have been in a more fragile state.
"The result would have been more devastating," Pacquiao said, hinting that he could have lapsed into a coma from the accumulation of hard punches.
With the fourth Marquez fight a part of history, Pacquiao is training his sights on making a grand comeback in 2013.
Owing to the way he lost to Marquez, the Nevada Athletic Commission slapped Pacquiao a 120-day suspension starting on the night of the fight, meaning he won't be allowed to fight in the next four months.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum said he'd like to bring Pacquiao to the Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas, a brain center, before he starts talking about what's down the road for his No. fighter.
Arum said it would be ideal for Pacquiao to take a long rest before returning to the ring and the 81-year-old Hall of Fame promoter believes a fifth clash with Marquez during the Mexican Independence Day celebrations in mid-September 2013 would be a perfect coming-out party.
But it appears that September would be too long a wait for Pacquiao, who wants to see action in the third week of April.

Manny Pacquiao gets a warm welcome

 

Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquio with wife Jinkee, arrives at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport in Manila, on 12 December 2012. Pacquiao came home to a warm welcome after a sensational knouckout defeat by Mexican Juan Miguel Marquez in a bout last Sunday in the US. (STR/NPPA Images)