Arum won't market Bradley fight as Pacquiao's last

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao’s rubber match with Timothy Bradley on April 9 next year (April 10 Manila time) will likely be the Filipino icon’s last fight.

But for Top Rank chief Bob Arum, nothing is set in stone as far as Pacquiao’s retirement is concerned.

That’s why the veteran promoter will not market Pacquiao-Bradley 3 as Pacquiao’s last ring appearance.

"I am not going to position this as his last fight," Arum said in a report by ESPN.com’s Dan Rafael.

Pacquiao has repeatedly stated that he will fight one more time before calling it quits to focus on his political career. He will run as Senator under the opposition party of presidential aspirant and incumbent Vice President Jejomar Binay.

Arum, for his part, is not ruling out a Pacquiao comeback later in 2016.

 "It [Bradley fight] may very well be his [Pacquiao’s] last fight, but I won't put myself in the position of selling it as his last fight and then he decides he wants to fight again and I look like a schmuck. I'm not sure it is his last fight, despite what he told me," the Top Rank boss continued.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Times’ Lance Pugmire earlier said that Arum mentioned Pacquiao fighting again in November next year, possibly against rising star Terence Crawford.

Arum mentioned "November" as a possible next Pacquiao date, with Crawford a candidate, while Pac would obviously pursue @FloydMayweather.

— Lance Pugmire (@latimespugmire) December 30, 2015

A rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., who outpointed Pacquiao in boxing’s richest fight ever, also isn’t out of the question.