POUND-FOR-POUND king Manny Pacquiao who’s supposed to leave for the United States last week to train for his fourth fight against his archrival Juan Manuel Marquez on December 8, at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas is still in the Philippines.

“Negative,” Pacquiao’s long-time lawyer Franklyn Gacal told The Manila Times in a text message when asked if the champ’s scheduled flight to Los Angeles pushed through last week. “So far, there is no formal schedule yet when he will leave for the US. But I’m sure anytime within this month, Manny will go to US to start his training.”

Despite the delay, Gacal believes Pacquiao remains in good fighting condition because he regularly trains under his friend and coach Buboy Fernandez in General Santos City.

Though Gacal did not specify politics as the reason of the delay of the boxer’s flight to the US, Pacquiao is currently busy for his reelection bid as Saranggani representative in next year’s elections. His wife Jinkee is also running as Saranggani vice-governor.

A reliable source from the Pacquiao camp that has requested anonymity said that the boxer might leave the country next week or on October 27.

Meanwhile, Top Rank Promoter Bob Arum expressed dismay over the delay of Pacquiao’s training at the Wildcard gym under his chief trainer Freddie Roach.

“Manny has to decide whether he is a boxer or he’s a politician,” Arum, who wanted Pacquiao to be in the US at least by October 20, told philboxing.com.

“I would like him for the next two months to be a boxer and then the politics will take care of itself when he finishes the fight with Marquez. But that’s up to him.”

Pacquiao would have less than six weeks of training if he managed to go to the US by the 27th of this month.