• Welterweight

Pacquiao's November date pushed back

ESPN staff
August 22, 2012
Manny Pacquiao is expected to face Juan Manuel Marquez or Timothy Bradley in December © PA Photos
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Manny Pacquiao's plan to fight on November 10 has been shelved, and he will now take to the ring on December 1.

Pacquiao's "personal affairs" have brought about the postponement, although it is still anticipated he will face one of Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley or Miguel Cotto.

"Bob Arum [Pacquiao's promoter] has moved the date now to December 1, and he's done that at our request due to conflicting schedules with the boxing and Manny's personal affairs," Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's adviser, told RingTV.com.

Of the three options, Cotto now looks the least likely: he is scheduled to return to action on December 1 - but at Madison Square Garden in New York, rather than the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where Pacquiao will fight. Whether Cotto will press ahead with that plan, and put his bout head-to-head with Pacquiao's, remains to be seen.

Bradley, the WBO welterweight champion who beat Pacquiao earlier this year, has expressed frustration about being left in limbo while the Filipino makes up his mind over his next opponent, and so is unlikely to be cheered by this further delay.

Pacquiao had been expected to make a decision last week, according to reports.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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