Manny Pacquiao throws a punch but doesn’t his target as he fails to beat Floyd Mayweather, Jr. during their welterweight WBO, WBC and WBA (Super) title fight in Las Vegas, Nevada. (MNS Photo)
MANILA (Mabuhay) — Filipino boxing champ and Sarangani Rep. Emmanuel “Manny” Pacquiao may not be able to get home this Friday as he will undergo surgery on his right shoulder.
This was the advice of Pacquiao’s doctors after an MRI scan. Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz said doctors told the boxer his injury worsened after his fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. on Saturday (Sunday, PHL time).
The operation is scheduled for this week. Doctors will give a complete medical report before and after the operation.
The surgery will be for Pacquiao’s torn rotator cuff, with the recovery time expected to put Pacquiao out of action for nine to 12 months.
Trainer Freddie Roach earlier said Pacquiao injured his shoulder after colliding with another fighter during sparring and their arms got entangled.
During his post-fight press conference on Sunday, Pacquiao said he was not able to do the things he needed to do during the bout with Mayweather because of his injury.
“It was because my shoulder hurt,” Pacquiao said.
He lost to Mayweather via unanimous decision last Sunday in the four-belt unification bout.
Pacquiao admitted his team decided not to inform the public about the injury prior to the fight.
“Ayaw ko na mag-alala sila,” Pacquiao said.
Initially, the champ was scheduled to return to the Philippines this Friday.
The injury would appear to rule out any chance of a rematch after the 38-year-old Mayweather said he would have one more fight in September before retiring.
“We have an MRI scan that confirms he has a rotator cuff tear. He has a significant tear,” orthopedic surgeon Neal ElAttrache said.
Pacquiao (57-6-2, 38 KOs), known for his aggressive and all-out attacking style, was clearly not the his typical offensive-minded self in Las Vegas.
After the fight, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum said Pacquiao suffered a shoulder injury in training camp about two-and-a-half weeks earlier and that it hampered him in the fight.
Top Rank and Pacquiao confirmed the account of the injury in a statement on Monday, saying that the 36-year-old and his doctors had concluded that with rest, treatments and monitoring, he would be ready for the fight.
However, they said the Nevada Commission stopped the treatment a few hours before the fight, telling them it was unaware of the shoulder injury. (MNS)