When Floyd Mayweather was given a 90-day jail sentence for misdemeanor battery domestic violence late last year (to begin being served on January 6), it essentially killed another opportunity for Manny Pacquiao?s promoter Bob Arum to put together the super-fight the world craves between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. Although Pacquiao is coming off of a less-than-stellar showing against Juan Manuel Marquez last November?a fight myself and many others believe he lost?there is still little doubt that the guy people want to see Pacman in there with is Floyd Mayweather.
Even if Floyd is released from jail a few weeks early for good behavior, it?s still doubtful that Floyd and Manny would face each other in their next fights, respectively. Understanding this, it?s fair to assume that Arum will match Manny with someone other than Floyd this spring, and you can?t really blame him?well, except for the fact that he stated numerous times that the rematch with Juan Manuel Marquez was the focus all along?
Then again, that could very well have been some form of negotiation tact, something very few are as good at as Bob Arum is.
Considering all of this, let?s take a look at three names out there for Manny Pacquiao to fight this spring?
What?s Next for Pacquiao?
1. He Could and Should Fight: Juan Manuel Marquez
This one is fairly simple. Juan Manuel Marquez was robbed last November. Many feel that Marquez has defeated Manny Pacquiao not once, not twice, but THREE times!!! The best he?s ever been able to come away with officially is a draw, from the first time they met in May of 2004. Personally, I feel Manny Pacquiao did win each of their first two battles(although not by much)?but the third fight was absolutely a win that Marquez deserved. That so many had written ?Dinamita? off going into the bout (myself included) added to the overall shock of just how ineffective Manny was against an older Marquez?especially at a higher weight, something Manny has been able to thrive at. It seems that Marquez is Pacquiao?s kryptonite, and no matter if they fight each other 100 more times, it will always be close, and likely always controversial.
Since this was the initial fight that Arum wanted to put together for this spring, not only is it logical, but it?s a fight Manny SHOULD take to prove his superiority to his Mexican nemesis. Then again, does the boxing world truly want to see this fight again? Do we want more controversy? If Marquez were to win?which, based on November?s showing is very much a possibility?would this again kill the super-fight with Floyd that hangs in the balance? These are all questions that have to be considered.
