Manny Pacquiao will be ready to return to the ring by next March.
The Filipino boxer, who is in New York to accept an award, said: “My shoulder is 80 to 90% healed and I believe I can start training in November or December so I can fight early next year.”
Pacquiao is recovering from surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff following his defeat to Floyd Mayweather in May.
A winner of world titles in eight different weight classes, the 36-year-old Pacquiao said earlier this month that he was eyeing one final fight before retiring to concentrate on a political career.
He has said previously he would not rule out a rematch with Mayweather, despite the American having already announced his retirement.
However, Mayweather is also expected to take one last fight next year in an attempt to break Rocky Marciano’s record of retiring with a record of 49-0.
Asked about the possibility of facing Britain’s Amir Khan as his next opponent Pacquiao was non-committal.