MACAU – While Manny Pacquiao?s unprecedented rise up the scales has reserved him a space in boxing history, his next step could possibly be a step down in weight. According to Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach, the eight-division boxing champion will likely begin campaigning in the 140-pound division should he get by unbeaten New Yorker Chris Algieri (20-0, 8 knockouts) on Sunday, November 23, at The Venetian in Macau, China.
Pacquiao (56-5-2, 38 KOs) has fought above the junior welterweight division for the past nine fights ? including a one-night junior middleweight dalliance against Antonio Margarito at a catchweight of 150 pounds ? and hasn?t competed as a junior welterweight since knocking out Ricky Hatton in two rounds in 2009.
But Pacquiao has always been a more natural 140-pounder, Pacquiao?s trainer Freddie Roach contends, adding that he only moved up to 147 for the big money fights like Oscar de la Hoya and Miguel Cotto.
With a new set of players to add to the pool, the most relevant question becomes: Should Pacquiao defeat Chris Algieri, who will he fight next?
The most attractive fight for Pacquiao – and boxing in general – would be the elusive Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight, which has been teased and danced around for several years. Disagreements over purse splits and drug testing have been roadblocks to the fight but with both boxers inching towards retirement with few names left to conquer, the fight appears more urgent than ever.
Pacquiao?s promoter Bob Arum, who once promoted Mayweather before the two split acrimoniously a decade ago, told the Los Angeles Times several days ago that Leslie Moonves, CEO of Showtime?s parent company CBS, has helped to bridge the gap between the two parties.
“The guy carrying the ball is Moonves,” Arum said. “He and I have talked on a number of occasions and he has suggested we see if we can reach an understanding. I assume, without knowing for a fact, that he’s talking to the Mayweather camp.”
Speaking with Rappler, Arum declined to go into details about a fight with Mayweather. ?I?m very optimistic that Les can deliver the other side. I know we?re ready and hopefully the fight can happen. But I?m not going to talk about discussions.?
Roach isn?t as optimistic that the fight will happen.
?We?ve been waiting for this for how long now? Will that dream ever come true? I doubt it,? said Roach on Wednesday afternoon, November 19. ?He?s been ducking us for three and a half years now. He?s shot, his legs are gone. Manny will knock him out. It?s not even a fight anymore. The guy?s all done now.?
(RELATED: Pacquiao is another level above Algieri, says Roach)
A dearth of clear, viable opponents isn?t a new problem for Pacquiao during the years of boxing?s ?Cold War,? where a divide in the sport developed between Pacquiao?s promoter Top Rank and rival group Golden Boy Promotions that blocked many big fights from coming to fruition.
So if not Mayweather next for Pacquiao, then who?
3 fighters
Bob Arum gave Rappler 3 names whom he has been looking at to share a ring opposite Pacquiao for his next date, which he says would be in the United States ? probably not Las Vegas ? in the first half of next year.
?Let?s see how Jessie Vargas looks. What about Danny Garcia? A lot of guys that he can fight. There?s Diego Chaves, who is fighting Timothy Bradley. What if he beats Bradley? That?s a pretty good opponent. So let?s see what happens,? said Arum.
