Filipino boxing icon Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao could return with a bang in the U.S.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who promotes the Philippine pride, says that his prized warrior will fight early next year, Las Vegas Review-Journal reported. Arum also discussed why "Pacman's" comeback, as soon as he recovers completely from his torn rotator cuff injury, will not take place in the Middle East as previously planned.

"We're looking at the first 3½ months of the year. We played around with having Manny fight in the Mideast. But if you do a fight in the Mideast, you lose half the pay per view. And the people we were talking to couldn't guarantee the live gate would make up for the loss on the pay per view, so it's not going to happen there," the 83-year-old promoter shared.

Instead, the 36-year-old veteran boxer will please his American fans and fellow countrymen living in the U.S., as his return may be staged there. "Pacman" is set to fight again either in late February at the earliest or in mid-April so that it will not coincide with some much-anticipated events like the Final Four of the NCAA basketball.

Most importantly, the Top Rank executive wants the eight-division world champion to be physically fit when he commits to his next clash unlike when he entered the MGM Grand Arena on his May 2 bout against the undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr.

"He's doing a million things right now. But I'm not going to make a fight for him until he sees (Dr. Neal) ElAttrache. ElAttrache said he won't clear him until there's an MRI," Arum said.

Arum told The Philippine Star that, most likely, "Pacman" will collide against World Boxing Council Silver welterweight titleholder Amir Khan, who is Pacquiao's former sparring partner at the Wild Card Gym under Freddie Roach.

The seasoned promoter confirmed to the Las Vegas Review-Journal that Khan will most likely be Pacquiao's next foe, but he is also considering International Boxing Federation welterweight titleholder Kell Brook, World Boxing Organization junior welterweight titlist Terence Crawford and WBC Silver super lightweight titleholder Lucas Matthysse. Pacquiao's next fight will also be under an HBO Pay Per View arrangement.

Meanwhile, "King Khan" is already looking forward to facing "Pacman," given the excitement it will bring to their massive fans, News Day reported.

"A Pacquiao fight is something I would love to have. I think it can happen. That would be a huge fight. With his fan base and my fan base, that's a huge international fight," the British boxer said.

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