Manny Pacquiao downplayed criticism from promoter Bob Arum on Monday after the injured Philippine boxing hero missed a doctor`s visit for a shoulder injury, saying he was carrying out his own rehabilitation.
Arum hit out at his own boxer last weekend for missing a rehab visit and said he has no idea when “Pacman” might fight again after his right shoulder was hurt fighting Floyd Mayweather in May.
“I respect Bob Arum. He`s just like a father to me. I believe he`s just voicing out his concern (for) me and I appreciate it. I don`t take it negatively,” Pacquiao said in a statement.
“But he has nothing to worry about (regarding) my injury. I`m doing the rehab myself. I`m recovering faster than expected.”
Pacquiao had surgery on May 7 to repair a tear to his right rotator cuff sustained in the unanimous points defeat against Mayweather in the richest fight of all time in Las Vegas.
He cancelled a scheduled check-up with his surgeon Neal ElAttrache at the Kerlan-Jobe Orthopaedic Clinic in Los Angeles on July 4, prompting sharp criticism from the 83-year-old head of Top Rank promotions, who said “he`s not acting very professionally”.
Pacquiao did not say if he was receiving medical advice or treatment from another doctor but said his situation was improving, adding: “I can now raise my right arm.”
The Filipino, winner of an unprecedented eight world titles in separate weight divisions, did not respond to his American promoter`s remark that as far as he was concerned the boxer is “not an active fighter`.
Just days after missing the July 4 appointment, Pacquiao travelled to Indonesia in a much-publicised trip to film a television advertisement and visit a Filipina on death row who is seeking clemency.
