NO sooner had Manny Pacquiao begun singing celebratory ditties following his beatdown of Antonio Margarito nine days ago, than the debate ? and negotiations ? started up regarding the Filipino history-maker?s next opponent. I assess the main runners and riders below but Shane Mosley holds a key advantage over his main rivals for this dubious honour ? albeit one that comes with a hugely desirable purse: he has no fight currently scheduled. But forget who it WILL be and consider who it SHOULD be.
Shane Mosley
Talk about being rewarded for a comprehensive defeat and a stalemate against a man who would not have touched you in your prime. Is this what you get for one jarring right hand? Mosley is edging towards retirement and coming off two bouts without a win so this one will be easy to make but what does it prove? Defeating this Mosley ranks lower than Pacquiao?s wins over Miguel Cotto and Ricky Hatton for example, both champions in their peak years, one undefeated. Shane is still a name but offers no real form guide (he rocked Floyd Mayweather, but failed to push him over 12 rounds) and is seen as a faded force. The main attraction? Despite meeting the best of his generation, tough Mosley has never been stopped.
Andre Berto
The Haitian-Floridian has been calling for a big fight for some time and is young, strong and undefeated. Berto remains untested at elite level but is a world champion and exciting to watch. He cannot touch Mosley for name value but the WBC welter king will certainly come to win. His Saturday defence against lanky Freddy Hernandez looks a formality and if he performs impressively, he could put himself firmly in the frame.
Tim Bradley/Devon Alexander
The winner of this January 29 clash may face Pacquiao next summer but with Top Rank trying to tie down Manny?s spring opponent now, the opportunity may have come to soon for whomever turns out to be the world?s best 140-pounder (sorry, Amir). Both light-welters are unbeaten and a victory for one over the other will increase that fighter?s fame and perceived threat to Pacquiao and other elite fighters. But Pacquiao?s best current weight may be 140, judging by his recent on-the-night poundages and he certainly has the speed to cut it down there. If the Bradley-Alexander winner moves up, however, this only takes them out of their comfort zone into a realm Pacquiao has grown accustomed to. Bradley offers a brand of compact, intelligent pressure that would present Manny with an interesting challenge, but it?s Alexander?s slick counter-punching which represents a more intriguing proposition and a more appropriate barometer for a future clash with Mayweather.
Sergio Martinez
Not many observers were talking about this fight three days ago but Martinez?s second-round knockout of former conqueror Paul Williams was a real game-changer. Would middleweight be a bridge too far for the man from Cebu City? Perhaps, if Martinez were a big middle and if we hadn?t asked the same question of Manny at every weight since light-welter. Perhaps the Argentine could be persuaded to put his middle belt on the line against Pacquiao?s own WBC light-middle strap at 154lbs ? ala Sugar Ray Leonard-Donny Lalonde (that also involved two WBC titles). A career-high purse (by some distance) should remove the ?perhaps? in that scenario. It would be a huge risk for Pacquiao ? he?d be giving up substantial natural size against a slippery, fast, powerful fellow southpaw. And despite the eye-catching demolition of Williams, Martinez ? criminally ? remains on just the right side of unknown. But the opportunity to win a middleweight belt, having taken his first title at flyweight, and going into a contest without being a heavy favourite for the first time in years must be tantalising possibilities for Pacquiao. I?d like to see it at 154 and if it?s built right so would the boxing world. If Pacquiao doesn?t fight him don?t be surprised if Mayweather does, assuming he slips the prosecution?s haymakers. Pacman?s not the only one who wants to secure a legacy. Until next time…
