Pac to the future

LAS VEGAS — See you in November or December.

That’s what’s on the horizon for Manny Pacquiao.

Despite coming up short of dethroning World Boxing Council (WBC) welterweight king Mario Barrios on Sunday (Manila time) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena here, Pacquiao made the announcement of his ring return.

“Pacman is back and the journey will continue. Forget about politics. I am a private citizen now,” said Pacquiao during the post-fight presser.

The bout was ruled a majority draw and that allowed Barrios to keep a hold of the WBC 147-pound belt Pacquiao almost snatched away from him.

“I thought that after the 12th. I won the fight. 8-4 rounds. But the thing is the announcement that it was a draw,” said the 46-year-old eight-division legend.

Still, Pacquiao swears that overall, he was still satisfied with his first ring performance in nearly four years and that it could have been much better if only he had trained for three months instead of just two.

“You know, I didn’t have a fight and training for just two months is not enough. I started late because of the elections,” said Pacquiao, who unsuccessfully ran for a Senate seat and reported for training camp a week after the elections.

“(Next time) I (would) need three or four months of training.”

Pacquiao wasn’t actually lonely when he fulfilled his media commitment.

He smiled back and sounded excited about a fight that is taking place late this year but kept on insisting that he had won the fight.

“I really thought that I won.”

“But I am still thankful that I didn’t lose the fight and it was a draw. But most of the fans thought I won the fight. Even if I slowed down in the last two rounds, it didn’t mean that I lost the fight.”

The bottom line, according to Pacquiao, is that he is not going to ride into the sunset.

Not yet.

“The Pacman is still there,” he said after his 16th fight at the Grand Garden Arena, the same venue where he made his smashing US debut in June 2001.

Even Barrios marveled at the way Pacquiao conducted his business.

“Hats off to Manny, He still got good legs,” said Barrios, who likewise expressed his willingness to do it one more time.

“I will do the rematch. Absolutely. This was huge for boxing. I would love to do it again.”

Meanwhile, Pacquiao is going to take a break and spend time with his family before easing into boxing mode again.

If and when that happens, Pacquiao would be almost 47.

But from what he had just shown against Barrios, it would be foolish to count him out.