Manny Pacquiao fight news: Not retiring in 2016, Pac-Man downplays Bob Arum's statement

Manny Paquiao Reuters

Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao seems to have a few more fights left in him and will not be hanging the gloves next year, unlike what his promoter said in an interview last week. 

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, told TMZ last Tuesday that his prized fighter will have one more bout and it will be in 2016. 

Arum added that Pacquiao will retire from boxing following that fight to pursue his dream of becoming a senator, then the president of the Philippines. 

Pacquiao is currently serving as a congressman in his homeland after getting re-elected following his first term. 

But the 36-year-old seems to disagree with his promoter and told reporters Saturday, according to Agence France-Presse (AFP), "I know better what is happening to my body. Just leave it alone. Better not to react to that."

The former welterweight champion is currently recovering from a shoulder surgery he went through days after his record-breaking bout against rival Floyd Mayweather Jr. which he lost via unanimous decision. 

Pacquiao's camp said he injured his shoulder while training for the match against Mayweather and it was aggravated in the fight, which slowed him down. 

But the former eight-division champion is recovering faster than expected and Arum said that he will be back in the ring early next year. 

Since a rematch with Mayweather is impossible as of now, a likely opponent for Pacquiao is British top contender Amir Khan who already said he would take the fight against his former sparring and stable mate under Freddie Roach. 

In a report by Sky Sports last month, Arum said he would present the Khan fight to Pacquiao and then see what happens.

Before his loss to Mayweather, Pacquiao was on a three-fight winning streak defeating Brandon Rios, Timothy Bradley (rematch), and Chris Algieri all via unanimous decision. 

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