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Source: ABS-CBN News

MANILA, Philippines – Eight-division world champion Manny Pacquiao has decided to move his next fight from April to May 2011 to give him more time to attend to his duties as lone representative of the southern Philippine province of Sarangani.

Boxing promoter Bob Arum earlier set an April 16 fight date for Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight and World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight champion.

But given Pacquiao’s tight schedule in the Philippines, the fight date has been moved to May 7 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

“Sa May 7 na ‘yong next fight ko (My next fight will be on May 7),” said Pacquiao.

The pound-for-pound king said he has yet to decide on his next opponent, pending his meeting with Arum.

Pacquiao has been busy preparing for his 32nd birthday celebration on Dec. 17 (Friday), which will take place in General Santos City.

Arum is expected to present the offers of “Sugar” Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Andre Berto.


Tax issues

Pacquiao also answered queries about his reported failure to settle his taxes for his fight earnings in 2009.

“’Yung mga kinita ko sa America hindi pa kasi pumasok. May kaunting problema pa pero inaayos na ‘yon (My earnings in America have not yet come in. There are slight problems but everything is being settled),” he said.

Pacquiao had two prize fights in 2009, both of which he won. The Filipino fighter knocked out British boxer Ricky Hatton on May 2 and then followed it up with a TKO over Puerto Rican pugilist Miguel Cotto on November 14.

In the Hatton fight, Pacquiao earned a reported $12 million for just 2 rounds of boxing. He also got an estimated $22 million for the Cotto fight, which included his fight purse and pay-per-view earnings.

However, Pacquiao paid only P7.41 million (approximately $168,918) in taxes for 2009, according to the Bureau of Internal Revenue (BIR) records.

He assured the BIR his documents are already being processed.

“Nakakahiya naman kasi. Isa tayo sa number one taxpayer tapos ganun, maayos din ‘yan (This is embarrassing. We’re one of the top taxpayers then this happens. Everything will be settled),” said Pacquiao.