Manny Pacquiao, Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum Discussing Five-Fight Contract Extension Through 2016

While Manny Pacquiao isn’t sure if he’ll fight again this fall, the current WBO Welterweight champion remains fixated on securing his immediate professional future since the Filipino has made it known that he wants to fight two more years. Working alongside longtime promoter Bob Arum, the 35-year-old talent hopes to come to an agreement on an extension with the Top Rank promoter, who has worked with Pacquiao since 2005. The current structure of the deal would include five bouts through 2016, thus satisfying Pac-Man’s desire to stretch his career for two more professional campaigns. Though Pacquiao’s time with Arum and Top Rank has been consistent, Michael Koncz, adviser to the eight-division world champion, says other opportunities are being explored.

“I have had conversations with Bob about an extension, but nothing has been finalized," Koncz said to ESPN.com recently. “Do we fight again this year or take some time off and fight next year? There are a lot of things to work on, but the new agreement we are discussing would entail five fights. That's our intention, barring injury. Bob has been good to us over the years and we have been good to him. We may sign with him or we may not. We have other offers on the table and we will look at all our options and decide what's best for Manny, but I don't want to discuss the particulars because I don't want to offend other people.”

The current deal between Top Rank and Manny Pacquiao effectively runs out at the end of 2014 but due to the fact that Pacquiao – who recently upended Timothy Bradley to reclaim the WBO Welterweight crown – has enjoyed his partnership with Bob Arum, the Filipino sensation would like to see it continue. Though it seems unlikely, a continued tandem with Arum could see Manny Pacquiao finally step between the ropes with undefeated Floyd Mayweather Junior, who is also a former client of Arum.

“Yes, we are talking about the extension,” Arum said. “We are working it out. We are talking about a lot of things. How many fights would be in Macau, how many would be in the United States, how many in other places? But we are talking about five fights.”