The list of fighters being eyed to face Manny Pacquiao next year is getting longer.
Add the name of Argentine knockout king Lucas Matthysse to the growing list, according to Top Rank chief Bob Arum.
Matthysse, 32, is fighting Viktor Postol of Ukraine next month and a win should strengthen his position to land the lucrative payday that Arum is planning to stage in March or April of 2016.
Arum is looking at three names for Pacquiao: Amir Khan and Kell Brook, both from England, and Terence Crawford of the US.
Crawford is also on the priority list since he fights under Arum?s promotional outfit.
Matthysse has a 37-3 win-loss record with 34 KOs and is the type of guy who could make Pacquiao look sensational as the South American loves to slug, a trait that the Filipino icon wants from his foes.
?A very big fight with Pacquiao would be my goal. I want to keep fighting the best fighters, in my division and in the game,? Matthysse told the LA Times a couple of days ago.
Exploratory talks with the camp of Khan had started as early as last month when Arum made a trip to London.
While Pacquiao is craving for a rematch with Floyd Mayweather, the brash American who beat him on points last May, it doesn?t look as though it would come into fruition since Mayweather has made it clear that his recent victory over Andre Berto was his last fight.
?Whether there is a second (bout with Mayweather), it?s not a problem. I heard he?s retired, so it doesn?t matter,? Pacquiao told the Associated Press.
Pacquiao wants Arum to hold his comeback fight not later than the second week of April so he can campaign in the national elections set in May, Arum told boxingscene.
It could not yet be determined if Pacquiao, who turns 37 on Dec. 17, will go for the position of governor of Sarangani or run for a Senate seat.
