Pacquiao targets September ring return

LONDON – Manny Pacquiao has revealed he is to return to the ring in September and hasn’t ruled out a fifth fight with Mexican great Juan Manuel Marquez.The Filipino was unconscious for a worrying length of time after suffering a frightening knockout defeat in the sixth round of his fourth fight with the Mexican in December and with signs of decline evident for some time had been advised to consider retirement.That interest in a super-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr is at its lowest point also leaves Pacquiao with one less reason to fight on but the 34-year-old.A veteran of victories over Marquez, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto and Shane Mosley among others, continues to believe he is a fighter of the highest calibre and insists it will not be long before he experiences his next win.“Tell them [the fans] to be patient,’ Pacquiao told The Manila Examiner. ‘[Top Rank promoter] Bob Arum and myself have been talking and will continue talking. What is definite is they’ll see me fight again come September. “Not April nor immediately after that as speculations are going. Tell the public that it won’t be long before I make them happy again when I fight. Given Mayweather’s preoccupation with his May 4 fight against Robert Guerrero, the many previous difficulties in attempting to make a Pacquiao fight and a lack of suitable opponents it is difficult to see who, beyond Timothy Bradley, the Filipino could fight if not Marquez, even if the decision is to be the Mexican’s.