The date of Manny Pacquiao’s next fight has been tentatively set by Top Rank Promotion’s CEO Bob Arum: April 12, 2014.
And
while Arum remains mum over who the “fighting congressman from
Saranggani province in the Philippines” will be facing on that date,
many—including Pacquiao’s Hall-Of-Fame trainer Freddie Roach—have come
up with names that could be atop the squaring circle with the “Pacman”
in about five months.
“Personally, I want (Juan Manuel) Marquez
but the thing is I can’t be sure if we can get him to fight us.
(Timothy) Bradley is there. Obviously (Floyd) Mayweather is a guy we
want,” Roach said to the media after Pacquiao’s unanimous decision
victory for the vacant WBO International Welterweight title over Brandon
Rios in Macau recently.
Marquez (hereon to be referred to as
JMM), Bradley and Mayweather are indeed quality prospects that also
carry a touch being a “personal” bout for Pacquiao. JMM knockout
Pacquiao for the first time since Thailand’s Medgoen Singsurat
accomplished the feat in 1999. He’ll want to have that shot at
redemption. Bradley “defeated” Pacquiao last year in a title fight that
many believed he should have won. He’ll want to prove that he was the
true victor.
And of course, Mayweather.
It’s been four years
since the initial talks of a megafight to prove the world’s best Pound
for Pound boxer truly is. If they lock horns now, it may not even be for
that distinction, but for who could be the best boxer of all-time (with
all due respect to other legends).
However, there are other
talented and enigmatic welterweights out there that could give Pacquiao
not only a run for his money, but also provide a top quality fight for
all the world to see.
Pacquiao is not getting younger (he’ll be 35
next month). Analysts speculate that the eight-division king might only
have three or four bouts left before end his iconic prize-fighting
career. Many aficionados agree that the April fight might precede a
bigger box office draw later in the 2014—perhaps against JMM, Bradley or
Mayweather. But for now, all anyone can do is speculate.
That’s
what we’ll do here. I present to you five possible Pacquiao opponents
for that April 12th encounter. I’m taking into consideration viability,
fight marketability and quality. Let’s not have another Rios debacle,
please. One Clottey fight was bad enough already.
Let’s begin:
l. Timothy Bradley, 30—WBO Welterweight champion, 31-0-0 (12)
This
could be the opponent that dealt Pacquiao his most painful loss—because
it should not have been one. Bradley engaged Pacquiao practically
toe-to-toe in their clash for the title in June of 2012 and did win some
rounds, but not the entire fight. After an investigation, the World
Boxing Organization (WBO)—the very same body that had its welterweight
title on the line—later concluded that Pacquiao won the bout. Bradley has always claimed that he won the bout fair and square, but for some reason or other a rematch has never been forged.
Pros: This
should be a major draw due to the controversies surrounding the first
bout. It should prove once and for all—albeit almost two years after the
fact—who the victor should really be. Bradley has also scalped JMM and
Russian sensation Ruslan Provodnikov in his two defenses of his crown
and staking before the guy he “stole” it from should provide the
fireworks necessary for record Pay-Per-View (PPV) sales and a venue like
Cowboy’s Stadium in Texas might have to be in order. Also, Manny won
the WBO International plum. Bradley is the WBO champion.
Cons: Manny
has been out of circulation for almost a year prior to the Rios bout.
And although he still showed that he still packs it, Pacquiao failed to
deck probably the weakest opponent he’s faced since Clottey. Manny may
have to consider a stepping-stone before he plunges against a NOW
bonafide champion. If this bout happens, I’m flipping a coin—at Manny’s
present state of being.
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| Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley are both candidates. (Getty images) |
2. Juan Manuel Marquez (V)—the man who put Pacquiao to sleep, 55-7-1 (40)
Arum
said he wants the Pacquiao-Marquez saga to eclipse that of Jake Lamotta
and Sugar Ray Robinson’s five fights over eight years. If JMM and
Pacman do lock horns again in April, it will be their fifth meeting with
Pacquiao having a record of 2-1-1 coming in. Except for the KO win by
JMM last December, the first three contests also had questionable
results as claimed not only by both camps, but many boxing experts as
well. And while a fifth fight could be viewed as overkill by many, the
true boxing fan would relish it.
Pros: Manny will
have a golden opportunity at big-time redemption. The loss to JMM might
be Pacquiao’s worst loss since that humiliating night where everything
fell against him in 1999 against Singsurat. I don’t even remember that
bout, but I will always remember how Manny was sprawled motionless on
the canvass after the JMM ended the fight in that sixth round that Manny
clearly won. If they get it on again in April, it will shatter perhaps
even Superbowl television viewership records. It might even be the most
defining moment in the history of the sport.
Cons:
JMM might not agree to it. Arum is arming himself with a number of
offers that may entice JMM to take the bait. What many fail to see is
that JMM is a very smart man who has already proven—at least in his
mind—that he is the better fighter against Pacquiao. JMM has no
financial issues (he’s close friends with Mexican president Enrique Peña
Nieto) and is also advancing in years. It’s around at this point in an
athlete’s life that he begins to make up for lost time with his family.
There’s even a bigger chance of JMM agreeing to a rematch with Bradley.
If JMM agrees to a fifth fight, I will be very shocked.
3. Adrien Broner, 24, 27-0-0 or Marcos Maidana, 30, 34-3-0 (31)—WBA Welterweight champion
These
two are scheduled to clash on December 14th for the WBA Welterweight
crown and many predict that Broner—a feisty knockout artist who barely
got by erstwhile titlist Paul Malignaggi last June—should be able to eke
out the title defense against the veteran from Argentina. Broner is
considered by many a Pacquiao clone and should be oblivious enough to
not be affected by the life-changing effects of a bout against Pacquiao.
Maidana’s career needs a shot in the arm after being scrambled by IBF
champion Devon Alexander in the former’s welterweight debut. Both are
exciting prospects, but not as high-profile as the Bradleys and JMMs of
the world. The loser of the title bout may even use a bout against
Pacquiao as a springboard back into the limelight.
Pros: A
non-title fight with other fighter will not only give Manny an
excellent workout, but will also serve as a gauge on how long he has
left in his illustrious career. Broner and Maidana are young and hungry
and could use a Pacquiao bout to enter the big time. It will also show
to the world that Manny is not afraid of the young blood emerging from
the welterweight ranks. It could serve as a passing of the torch, but it
could also serve as a step closer to undisputed immortality in the
sport for Pacquiao.
Cons: Broner and Maidana have
nothing to lose and everything to gain in a fight with a future
hall-of-famer. They may take risks that Pacquiao may have difficulty
countering. This can be equated to a move in poker we call “outdrawing
on the redraw” wherein Pacquiao—who could have been ahead before the
flop (fight) gets outdrawn on the flop (fight) but still has outs
(opportunities in the ring) to retake the advantage. But if Pacquiao can
pull it off, he’ll prove that he can truly beat anyone from any
generation.
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| Ruslan Provodnikov pounds Mike Alvarado. (Getty Images) |
4. Ruslan Provodnikov, 29, 23-2-0 (16) or Mike Alvarado, 33, 34-2-0 (23)
Let’s
say for a moment that—like Rios—these two gentlemen also desire to make
the jump for as bigger payday. Unlike Rios, these are probably two of
the most talented boxers in the division just below the 147-pound
welterweight realm—where Pacquiao resides. Provodnikov, a Russian native,
once attempted to join the big boys, but his first sortie in the
welterweight division was immediately a shot against Bradley as the
American’s mandatory title defense. Provodnikov shocked the world when
he floored Bradley in the twelfth round and somehow still lost via
unanimous decision. Alvarado, Rios’ most recent tormentor, is also known
for his speed and power and is the stylist that might just make
Pacquiao work a little harder than normal. Both are primed to make the
jump, but will it be against Manny?
Pros: It
will be an enigmatic match-up. No one will know what to expect as
you’ll have one set of fans saying that Pacquiao will just pull a Rios
on them, and then you’ll have another group saying that they may just be
hungrier than the Pacman and turn Manny into their personal Ledwaba. In
short, they will push themselves to be placed on the map of PPV lore.
Pacquiao’s camp knows how dangerous it is to go up against these kinds
of fighters and may even alter their training regimen just to be
prepared for smaller and speedy opponents. No one will know what to
expect.
Cons: This might just be another Rios.
Many is so far up the talent ladder that it will have to take an extra
special effort coupled with a big stroke of luck for Provodnikov or
Alvarado to pull off an upset. It can happen, but the chances of it
becoming reality might be slim. Pacquiao knows how to fend off upstarts
and will know whoever of the jumpers fears him. He will pounce. I called
the Rios bout the most boring in Pacquiao’s fights that went the
distance. If Provodnikov or Alvarado second guess themselves for just an
instant, they might grab that distinction.
5. Floyd Mayweather Jr., 36, 45-0-0 (26)—WBC Welterweight Champion
One
fan said that it will be the biggest bout of the year between two
fighters past their prime. I think that’s putting it harshly, but that’s
what happens when a fight that should have taken place three years ago
is now being pursued again. The question is, does it still have the same
appeal as to if it happened in 2010?
Pros: An
undisputed PPV record sales. There are still a lot of people who believe
that this should be the fight of the century. It will lay to rest all
doubts on who the best fighter who the best fighter on the planet is.
Despite Pacquiao having an inferior record to Mayweather, a win by
Pacquiao will change the history books, while a victory by “Money” will
put him atop a pedestal with the likes of Rocky Marciano, Joe Calzaghe
and Ricardo Lopez as prize-fighters who had a spotless career. Both
fighters can retire after this clash and both will be enshrined in the
Hall Of Fame faster than anyone else in history.
Cons: You
guys actually think that Mayweather will have any part of this? He’s a
businessman and has become wealthy because of his business acumen. He
knows that endangering his unblemished record against someone who can
actually beat him is not a wise investment. He’ll be called a coward by
many sectors and he will always say that’s their opinion. Also, both
fighters are from camps that don’t necessarily like each other as
Pacquiao is the standard bearer of Top Rank Boxing while Mayweather has
joined forces with Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions. Mayweather
will retire a rich and undefeated fighter and will leave it to the
creative minds of those in boxing to fantasize on what could have been.
If Mayweather agrees to fight Pacquiao, it will be a sign of the
apocalypse. And if he does decide to fight Manny, he’s in trouble.
For
now, let’s let Pacquiao soak in his first victory in nearly two years.
Who he fights in April will surely be an opponent of better quality than
Rios. He is still among the best in the sport and among the biggest
draws in the world. Manny turns 35 in a few weeks. He’ll have a lot of
pondering to do, but one thing’s for sure: retirement is not one of
them.