There’s no denying it: You can’t wait to find out whom Manny Pacquiao will fight next.
You continually Google phrases like “pacquiao bradley rematch” and “pacquiao marquez 4”.
You’ve even made www.inquirer.net/pacquiao-files your homepage.
I understand. As a longtime fan of the Fighting Congressman, I, too, would like to know the details of his return to the ring. But I’m also pleased to see that Pacquiao isn’t rushing this decision.
There’s a lot at stake — especially when you consider that this could be his last fight before taking on Floyd Mayweather Jr.
So who’s the best option? Let’s break down the pros and cons of the candidates.
Timothy Bradley
Pros:
-Everyone knows Pacquiao beat Bradley back in June, but a second scrap with Desert Storm would allow Manny to make it official. And get his belt back.
-Unlike Marquez, Bradley still has a flawless record (29-0), meaning Pacquiao could be the first man to (officially) beat him.
Cons:
-The first Pacquiao-Bradley fight only drew about 800,000 pay-per-view buys, and although a rematch may generate more interest, Pacquiao could probably make more moolah with Marquez.
-Bradley’s offensive style won’t prepare Pacquiao for the counterpunching Mayweather.
Juan Manuel Marquez
Pros:
-Pacquiao-Marquez IV would probably be more competitive than Pacquiao-Bradley II, and if Pacman can out-duke Dinamita again, his bargaining position for a Mayweather fight should improve.
-Pacquiao-Marquez III led to $11.3 million in ticket sales and 1.4 million pay-per-view buys. The Bradley fight didn’t even fill up the arena.
Cons:
-Marquez may once again force us to endure yet another post-fight interview in which he wears only a sombrero.
-Marquez hasn’t been able to beat Pacquiao in three outings, so what’s the point of arranging a fourth?
