Photo by: Naoki Fukuda

Everyone, it seems, is excited about Manny Pacquiao’s potential comeback to boxing except one prominent voice: Manny Pacquiao.

In the aftermath of news that Pacquiao wants to return to the ring later this year, Pacquiao, who was recently elected to the Senate in the Philippines, released a statement on social media that said he would not abandon his political duties to pursue a comeback.

Writing in all caps on his Facebook page, Pacquiao said, “THERE IS NO TRUTH TO MEDIA REPORTS THAT I’M PLANNING TO TAKE A LEAVE FROM MY SENATE DUTIES JUST TO FIGHT AGAIN ATOP THE RING. I WANT TO MAKE IT CLEAR — MY PRIORITY IS MY LEGISLATIVE WORKS. MY NEXT FIGHT HAS NOT YET BEEN DISCUSSED. SHOULD THERE BE ANY, I’LL MAKE SURE IT WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH MY SENATE DUTIES.”

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Pacquiao advisor Michael Koncz told RingTV.com on Tuesday that a Pacquiao return would have to be arranged around his work as a senator and that part of the discussions now was working out the best time for him to fight, which would be when the senate is not in session. Arum has offered Oct. 29 or Nov. 5 as two possible dates for his return.

Pacquiao, perhaps sensitive of the perception that he may be guilty of prioritizing a boxing return over his political career, made it clear in his statement what was most urgent to him.

“WHEN I RAN FOR SENATOR LAST MAY 9 ELECTIONS, I MADE A PROMISE TO BE PRESENT IN ALL SESSIONS,” Pacquiao’s statement went on. “I OWE IT TO THE PEOPLE. IF EVER I DECIDE TO FIGHT AGAIN, REST ASSURED, IT WILL HAPPEN WHEN CONGRESS IS ON RECESS SO THERE’S NO NEED FOR ME TO GO ON LEAVE.”