Five “logical” opponents for Manny Pacquiao

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.

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.

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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.

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?

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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.

Follow Noel Zarate on Twitter (@NoelZarate) and email sportztackle@yahoo.com
Editor's note: The blogger's views do not represent Yahoo! Southeast Asia's position on the topic or issue being discussed in this post.