Pacquiao re-signs with Top Rank through 2016

MANILA, Philippines – WBO welterweight champion will most likely end his storied career fighting under Bob Arum’s Top Rank Inc.

This after the Filipino icon on Wednesday signed a contract extension with the promotional firm that will run through 2016.

“We are pleased that together with our partners at HBO we will continue presenting to the public fights of the great Manny Pacquiao through the end of 2016," Arum said in a statement.

The deal specifies the staging of at least two fights a year for Pacquiao, who earlier indicated he’s still good for two years. That means Pacquiao getting to the ring five more times, including his reported return in November, possibly against Juan Manuel Marquez in Macau.

Pacquiao has spent a significant portion of his career under Top Rank’s banner, with Arum’s firm promoting more than 10 of his bouts in the past seven years or so.

"The partnership among Manny, Top Rank, MP Promotions and HBO has been a wonderful one for all parties and for the public and it's great that is will continue for the years to come," Arum added.

The contract renewal, however, further dampens the possibility of Pacquiao having a megabuck showdown with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who had insisted his unwillingness to fight the Filipino as long as Arum is involved.

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"I'm not going to worry about something I can't bring to bear,” Arum told Yahoo! Sports’ Kevin Iole regarding a Pacquiao-Mayweather clash. "We want to fight him and we're willing to discuss it at any point.”

Mayweather is currently signed to a massive six-fight deal with Showtime, chief rival of fight broadcaster HBO which airs Pacquiao’s bouts. But Arum stressed things can be worked out.

“There are two ways to go here. One is to do a Mayweather fight with both HBO and Showtime involved, as they did with Lewis-Tyson, as I understand Mayweather is under contract to Showtime through 2015. The companies could come together and put on the show,” he told Iole.

"Or, the other alternative is, if Floyd wanted to fight Manny in 2016, he could return to HBO and we could do it there," Arum added.