Manny Pacquiao (pictured, left), the one-time pound for pound king of boxing, has announced plans to return to the ring, with a fight against 27 year old Brandon Rios, in Macau, China on November 24.
Pacquiao comes into the fight on the back of consecutive defeats, to Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley, and knowing he needs an entertaining, and convincing, victory to ensure he remains a credible proposition at the top level of the sport.
It will be Pacquiao’s first fight outside the United States since 2006, with the Filipino fighter returning to Asia. As a result of the 12 hour time difference between Macau and the United States mainland the fight will take place in the morning to suit US TV audiences.
ESPN reports that both Marquez and Bradley turned down the opportunity to face Pacquiao once more, with Marquez offered more than twice what he made for their last meeting – a fight which ended with a brutal knockout win for the Mexican.
"People know what Rios brings to the table," Arum told ESPN.com.
"People want to see a real fight, and that is what you get with Rios. We're building a business in Macau and China and these are the kinds of fights - real action fights - that they want to see."
