Re: That Oct. 15 Date For Pacquiao, and Broner As Foe

The fall schedule is heating up, with fights booked for Gennady Golovkin, Canelo Alvarez, Andre Ward and Sergey Kovalev—and can we basically put Manny Pacquiao down for an autumn tangle, too?

I checked in with Pacman right-hand man Michael Koncz on Monday night, seeing where the issue stands, whether the newly elected Senator has decided that he's able to juggle his governmental and pugilistic duties.

Basically, yes, Koncz said, Manny is thinking he can handle juggling the duo of chainsaws.

Manny is first and foremost dedicated to his Senate service, he noted. He is working with the president of the Senate to make sure he can handle the duties and a fight, Koncz told me. “But we haven't confirmed that date that's out there, Oct 15,” he said.

In fact, Koncz said, that is a particularly busy time in the Senate, so that date should really be scratched off the list of possible landing dates for the return which seems imminent. Koncz indicated a fight before Oct 15 wasn't in the cards, either.

And what about a foe?

Adrien Broner is—or maybe “was,” —a great option, Koncz said, with a contrasting personality which would help attract casual fans.

But his ask, the advisor said, was out of range. “He out-priced himself,” Koncz said.

The consigliere didn't want to get into possible alternatives, after I asked if Amir Khan was Plan B. “We should know more specifics on date and foe within a week or ten days. But I'm not a fan of some of these young guys, allegedly so talented, thinking about money over everything, over the opportunity to fight Manny, or Floyd. If you beat the man, then you become the man, and you command money. That then takes care of itself.”