Pacquiao cleared but ranks 6th in P4P

MANILA, Philippines - Four days after being knocked out cold by Juan Manuel Marquez at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Manny Pacquiao got the green light from doctors to resume his “sports activities.”

Pacquiao underwent a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test at the Cardinal Santos Hospital Thursday to check for injuries to his head and body, according to a report on dzBB radio yesterday.

“Everything is okay, no problem, masayang-masaya (Very happy),” said Pacquiao after the medical test.

A separate report  said Pacquiao underwent examination for his head and cervical spine.

Pacquiao also took precautionary tests at the University Medical Center in Las Vegas right after the bout, including CT scan, and the results were all negative.

But on Wednesday, the Nevada State Athletic Commission directed the Filipino icon to avoid any contact or do any physical activity related to boxing following his stinging sixth round KO loss to Marquez.

In fact, Pacquiao’s handler Top Rank’s boss Bob Arum said he wants Pacquiao to undergo extensive brain tests in Cleveland Clinic in Las Vegas to make sure everything is fine for the Filipino ring idol.

This developed as Pacquiao dropped from No. 2 to No. 6 in the latest pound-for-pound ranking by Sports Illustrated.

“The Latest: Pacquiao tasted the canvas for the first time in nearly a decade and suffered his first knockout loss since 1999 against Marquez when he got reckless in a fight he was winning. Bob Arum wasted no time floating the possibility of a fifth fight between the two longtime rivals,” SI wrote on the Filipino champion, who dropped to 54-5-2.

He also dropped from No. 2 to No. 7 in the Ring Magazine’s list.

Pacquiao shrugged off his slide in the rankings.

“Hindi pa tapos ang lahat, pwede pa tayo lumaban uli. Ang boxing hindi naman forever ka doon sa taas,” said Pacquiao.

“At least nakapagbigay tayo ng record na hindi makakalimutan sa history ng boxing, eight divisions,” he added.

While Pacquiao floundered, Nonito Donaire Jr., moved up to No. 5 following a ninth-round knockout of Japanese Toshiaki Nishioka last Oct. 13. Donaire also expects to improve even more if he beats Jorge Arce on Sunday.

Floyd Mayweather Jr., unbeaten in 43 fights, remains the sports’ best pound-for-pound fighter with middleweight Andre Ward now at No. 2 following a technical knockout win over Chad Dawson.

Marquez also moved to joint third with Argentinian middleweight Sergio Martinez.

Rounding up the top 10 were Ukrainian heavyweight Wladimir Klitschko, Bradley, Mexican bantamweight Abner Mares and Cuban featherweight Yuriorkis Gamboa, who decisioned Michael Farenas in the Pacquiao-Marquez undercard in a match he was tipped to win convincingly. – With reports from Joey Villar, LBG, GMA News