Manny Pacquiao's US Press Tour May Include Meeting with President Barack Obama

Manny Pacquiao's scheduled trip to the U.S. next month to promote his next fight with Shane Mosley may include an audience with President Barack Obama at the White House.

Before the year ended, Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum announced the Pacquiao-Mosley fight has been set for May 7 at the MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Arum said a short promotional tour will take place in four key U.S. cities sometime in February, and the cities that have been mentioned are New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco and even Washington, D.C., as the 79-year-old Top Rank chief is aiming to get Pacquiao a meeting with Barack Obama.

Pacquiao is currently in Japan with wife Jinkee and his children for relaxation and bonding with family. According to Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's Canadian adviser who is traveling with Pacquiao and family, they will proceed to Australia before heading back to Manila on January 10.

Koncz said Pacquiao is enjoying his time with the family in Japan. The fight contract is yet to be signed by Pacquiao, as there are few things that need to be ironed out. But Pacquiao will do so when they return to Manila, Koncz added.

“Manny’s not even talking about boxing,” said Koncz, who has been with Pacquiao in Japan since Dec. 27. “He is enjoying his time with his loved ones.”

“He is on vacation, so the fight contract will remain in my briefcase until after we get back to Manila,” said Koncz.

Upon his return to Manila, Pacquiao is expected to attend to his duties as neophyte congressman representing Sarangani province in southern Philippines.

Pacquiao is scheduled to commence training in March for his fight with Shane Mosley. It is possible half of his training period will be spent in Baguio City in the Philippines before moving to the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles, Calif., for the final leg of his training and physical conditioning.

Meanwhile Pacquiao has just been named "Fighter of the Year" by USA Today and Ring Magazine.