It has been one week since Floyd Mayweather defeated Shane Mosley and became available for a mega-fight with pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao. This week, the ongoing saga between Manny and Floyd has continued with both fans and the fighter?s themselves speaking out about it. However, both Top Rank CEO Bob Arum (Pacquiao?s promoter) and the Mayweather/Golden Boy group have yet to begin negotiations. When you hear the Mayweather-side, they are quick to say Pacquiao is preventing the fight from happening by not agreeing to Olympic-style drug testing. Testing that is not required by any state athletic commission. Then on the Pacquiao-side, Bob Arum is quick to shoot down any possibility of Pacquiao bending to any of the Mayweather?s demands. Instead Arum has been mentioning alternative bouts for Pacquiao, particularly Antonio Margarito.
So if not Floyd Mayweather, then who is a good opponent for Manny Pacquiao? There?s a long list of possibilities.
1.) Antonio Margarito at 154:
Bob Arum has mentioned fellow Top Rank fighter Antonio Margarito as a potential opponent for Pacquiao many times over recent weeks. It would be a solid test for Pacquiao if he indeed did bump up to 154 pounds. The fight would most likely be staged in Cowboy Stadium, since Arum feels that a popular Mexican fighter, such as Margarito, could draw a huge crowd in Texas. Arum hoped to stage an Antonio Margarito-Kelly Pavlik bout in Dallas, but with Pavlik?s recent loss to Sergio Martinez that is no longer possible. A fight with Margarito would be tricky for Pacquiao, but I feel that in the long run Pacquiao?s volume of punches would overwhelm and beat Margarito. Similar to how Mosley defeated him.
2.) Foreman-Cotto winner at 154:
Foreman and Cotto square off on June 6 for Foreman?s WBA junior middleweight title. Pacquiao already convincingly beat Cotto at 147 last year and I doubt anything would change if they squared off at 154. The difference is, Pacquiao would be able to challenge for an unprecedented eighth division title. Personally, I feel Pacquiao would have a much easier time with Foreman then he would Cotto. Neither is really an exciting match-up to me, but it could happen just because of that title.
3.) Timothy Bradley:
With Marcos Maidana backing out of his title bout on July 17, Timothy Bradley now needs an opponent. Bradley is the consensus #1 fighter in the junior welterweight division. He?s an American and has a somewhat decent following in the U.S. He?s a very good fighter. A battle with Pacquiao would be intriguing. Bradley is a very skilled boxer, with quickness and toughness. I don?t think he could defeat Pacquiao, but it?s a fight that is more than worth our time.
4.) Paul Williams at 147 or 154:
If Williams defeats Kermit Cintron Saturday night, then that would open him up to a number of opportunities. Sergio Martinez, Kelly Pavlik or even Manny Pacquiao. There isn?t a reason for Pacquiao to move up to 154 and fight Williams (since Williams holds no title at 154) but it makes sense for Williams to move back down to 147 and challenge Pacquiao for his world title. Williams would be a very difficult opponent for Pacquiao, due to his large height advantage. Williams is 6?1, while Pacquiao is a mere 5?6. It would be an interesting fight, but it is much too difficult of a match-up for Pacquiao. All risk, very little reward. He is already considered by many as the best fighter in boxing.
5.) Sergio Martinez at 154:
Outside of Mayweather and Pacquiao, Sergio Martinez may be riding the hottest streak in boxing right now. After his controversial loss, and fight of the year candidate, against Paul Williams, Martinez went on to batter middleweight champ Kelly Pavlik. Martinez now holds titles at 154 and 160. Pacquiao moving up to 154 and fighting Martinez could be an excellent fight. Both have unique styles, throw a lot of punches and attack you from awkward angles. Outside of Mayweather-Pacquiao, this could be the next best fight out there. However, Martinez?s availability is in limbo while he waits for Kelly Pavlik to decide on whether or not to exercise his rematch clause.
6.) Ander Berto:
Berto is the WBC?s welterweight champion, however many fans feel that he is still a little too green to take on a high-caliber opponent such as Pacquiao. Berto has great size, power and speed but does he have the tenacity to take on a pit-bull like Pacquiao? I would love to find out. Berto spoke to ?On the Ropes Boxing Radio? recently about Manny Pacquiao and has this to say,
?He[Manny Pacquiao] lacks defense. He?s easy to hit, but he sets a pace that?s a little too much for his opponents?he?s incredibly strong?he always tends to outwork and outpunch his opponents.?
?If I get in the position, I know it will be an entertaining fight because I know I?ll be able to touch him whenever I wanted to touch him and get in there with some power and I think it will be able to stop a lot of that jumping around and stuff.?
So if not Floyd Mayweather, who would you like to see Manny Pacquiao fight later this year? Off this list, who would be Pacquiao’s biggest threat? You can leave your comments below, or email them to [email protected].
