In April of 2016, Manny Pacquiao “retired” so he can “serve the people” of the Philippines. After winning the senatorial seat, he un-retired and fought just a couple of months later. He faced then WBO champion Jessie Vargas, in a bout that completely bombed on pay-per-view and had his lowest buy-rate in almost a decade.
Pacquiao has expressed his desire to continue competing, and his next bout is nearly finalized. Instead of the bout that fans wanted against junior welterweight champion Terrence Crawford, or even the borderline freakshow bout that Arum suggested against the uber-talented Vasyl Lomachenko, they’re going in a completely different direction.