Pacquiao has a very tough fight ahead of him and M?rquez’s chances should not be dismissed. Manny’s first two bouts with M?rquez were extremely competitive and this third fight may be no different. Currently, M?rquez is the WBA Super Lightweight Champion, WBO Lightweight Champion and the Ring Magazine Lightweight Champion. FightSaga currently rates M?rquez as its number four pound-for-pound boxer in the world.
After Pacquiao vs M?rquez III, Top Rank will likely grant one of the fighters below an opportunity to be Pacquiao’s next opponent.
Here’s a list of possible future opponents and their pros and cons from a Top Rank, promotion-based perspective.
1. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. (42-0, 26 KO) Division: Welterweight Record: 42-0, 26 KO Age: 34 Revenue Potential: Mind-blowing Risk Level: High
Why Fight Him? This bout would have tremendous international interest and would probably be the highest revenue-grossing fight ever. In addition, Pacquiao vs Mayweather would be an historically-significant event in professional sports and would cement the legacy of both combatants.
Why Pass on Him? Fighters cannot agree on drug testing methodology and may never.
Summary: Obviously, this is the fight everyone wants to see and the biggest in boxing. Although not everyone agrees which fighter deserves the top pound-for-pound ranking, general consensus is Mayweather and Pacquiao are the top two boxers in the world. What makes this match-up even more compelling is their styles complement each other. Pacquiao is an explosive brawler while Mayweather is tactical boxer. Both Mayweather and Pacquiao are extraordinarily popular worldwide and the fight would probably break all revenue records.
