MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao returned home to the Philippines on Wednesday nursing his right shoulder after surgery and weighing up whether to retire or push for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao, wearing a black shoulder brace and arm sling, said his immediate priorities were recuperating from surgery and his duties as congressman and family man. He said he suffered the shoulder injury during training for the May 2 fight which Mayweather won on a unanimous decision.
Pacquiao and his family arrived early Wednesday and rested briefly in his mansion in the Forbes Park residential enclave of Manila. He later joined fans, supporters and politicians for breakfast at a nearby hotel before a motorcade around the Philippine capital.
Thousands lined the streets as his motorcade passed, waving, applauding and taking pictures of the 36-year-old champion.
Sidewalk vendor Mary Jean Borgonia held up a white shirt with the words “Long Live, Manny” in the Filipino language printed in red letters.
“Even if he lost, for us he is still a winner,” she said.
Motorcycle taxi driver Alejandro Flores said Pacquiao “is really my idol, despite his loss.”
Pacquiao said when he recovers he’ll make an “announcement for continuing my career or announcement for retirement.”
The boxer is also going into the last year of his current term as congressman of southern Sarangani province. He did not indicate his plans in next year’s elections, which could include running for his last term as congressman, or provincial governor or senator.
“I know what you are thinking, that hopefully there would be a rematch. I like that. I want that,” he told the hotel crowd. “But for the moment, I am thinking of focusing on this shoulder, on my work and my family.”
Pacquiao lost the 12-round “Fight of the Century” and is facing several legal suits in the United States seeking damages over the non-disclosure of his shoulder injury before the bout.
The fight broke the pay-per-view record with 4.4 million buys that generated more than $400 million in revenue. With a live gate of nearly $72 million and other revenue, the bout grossed more than $600 million.
Mayweather was guaranteed 60 per cent of the net revenue to the promotion and Pacquiao the remaining 40 per cent.
In an interview with Philippine broadcaster ABS-CBN, Pacquiao said he reviewed a video of the fight several times and believed he won, though narrowly, against Mayweather.
“I reviewed it repeatedly. I scored myself. I was ahead two points,” he said.
He said, however, he respected the judges’ decision.
“Enjoy your victory, you deserve it,” he said in a message to Mayweather.
The Bible-quoting boxer said he was still a winner because “this is the first time that he (Mayweather) is thinking (of) God before and after the fight.”
Asked to comment on the pay-per-view record, Pacquiao said he was “not after the money.”
“What I am looking for is how to give enjoyment or a good fight to the fans,” he said.
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