Who?s out to get the eight-division world champ? Who are the greatest thorns in the side of the Filipino icon? Who stands the greatest chance of defeating and permanently derailing the future Hall of Famer?s career? Here?s a look at the ten greatest enemies of Manny Pacquiao, from no. 10 to no. 1:
10. Paulie Malignaggi
No, Paulie can?t beat Pacquiao in the ring. It?s not even a question that Manny would likely wipe the canvas with him if they were ever to fight. However, the fast-talking Brooklyn native has been a loud and aggressive critic of Manny?s and is a constant thorn in the side of Team Pacquiao. With his ability to generate anti-Pacquiao headlines, Paulie is mightier with his mouth than with his gloves.
9. Kell Brook
The UK?s IBF welterweight champ is smart, silky smooth, and, quite possible, the best welterweight not named Mayweather or Pacquiao. There?s no animosity between Brook and Manny, but many knowledgeable boxing people believe that the talented Brit can beat Manny.
8. Amir Khan
After being stood up by Floyd Mayweather, the boisterous Brit is now looking at a bout with Manny Pacquiao. And while his famously fragile chin may be his downfall in such a showdown, his heavy hands and raw athleticism give him a fair chance at scoring the upset.
7. Saul Alvarez
The 25-year-old Mexican star has his eyes set on becoming the sport?s next crossover superstar. Having failed at upsetting Floyd Mayweather, the one superstar left to beat is Manny Pacquiao. Given that Top Rank and Golden Boy have buried the hatchet to some degree, efforts will be made from Team Alvarez to somehow get Manny in the ring.
6. Miguel Cotto
Who knows if Cotto can beat Pacquiao in a rematch of his 2009 TKO 12 loss, but simply challenging Manny again would bring Team Pacquiao all kinds of problems. Is it necessarily a given that trainer Freddie Roach, who trains both Pacquiao and Cotto, would automatically choose to work with Manny? Would a bout contested at the middleweight or junior middleweight limit tip the odds in Cotto?s favor?
5. Terence Crawford
?Bud? Crawford just may be the next pound-for-pound superstar in the sport and there?s little question that promoter Bob Arum will put his two fighters together in the ring at some point in a ?passing of the torch? bout. Many feel that the question is ?when? and not ?if? when it comes to Crawford?s ability to beat Pacquiao.
4. Juan Manuel Marquez
After scoring a KO victory over Manny in December of 2012, the Mexican future Hall of Famer has insisted on closing the book on the Pacquiao saga for good. Money and media pressure have yet to make him waver on his decision to ignore the possibility of a fifth bout between the two– Marquez is still stubbornly insisting that he should be 4-0 against Pacquiao instead of 1-2-1. And even should Marquez give in and decide to face Pacquiao, he will continue to be a supremely difficult opponent for Manny to handle.
3. Bob Arum
Arum may be Pacquiao?s promoter and his greatest ally in the sport, but don?t think for a second that the veteran power broker would hesitate in junking the Filipino superstar for parts at the appropriate time. When Manny?s drawing power diminishes and another of his fighters appears to be on the verge of a big money breakthrough, Arum will sacrifice Pacquiao at the altar of big business.
2. Floyd Mayweather
Mayweather already holds an official victory over Manny and that, alone, will always be a thorn in Pacquiao?s side. Worst of all, though, Mayweather got the upper hand all throughout the five long years the bout was being disputed. At the end of the whole ordeal, Mayweather fought Pacquiao when he wanted, where he wanted, and under the conditions that best favored him. Expect the same should they ever face each other again.
1. Al Haymon
The mysterious behind-the-scenes power broker is the brain behind Mayweather?s bluster and the architect of the business model that managed to beat Team Pacquiao in the longstanding Floyd vs. Manny feud. Haymon is also the head of the Premier Boxing Champions Series and someone who controls a bevy of talent within Pacquiao?s weight range. With names such as Danny Garcia, Keith Thurman, Marcos Maidana, Shawn Porter, Adrien Broner, and Andre Berto on his roster (among many others), Haymon has the power to potentially bury Pacquiao with wave after wave of challenges or freeze Manny completely out of the picture by lending his talents to building a post-Mayweather superstar.
