Who Will Manny Pacquiao Fight Next? Written by Brad Burchards

Although I loved watching Rocky movies as a kid, I have never been a huge boxing fan. But after watching the last few fights of Manny Pacquiao, I got more interested in boxing and I've been trying to cram as much information as I can, even going to live events such as press interviews and weigh-ins with John M. Which leads me to this question which is on every boxing fanatics’ mind every time Pacquiao demolishes his opponent in the ring, or even before he steps into the modern gladiators arena (aside from Octagon of the UFC) there are already speculations on who his next opponent would be.

After Pacquiao annihilated practically all known Mexican fighters in the alphabet as well as some other world-class boxers out there, the question is when will the dream bout between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. take place. Pacquiao’s last three fights including the latest win against Mosley have dampened our thirst for boxing. The pattern here is that anyone is willing to fight Pacquiao, risking their career records just to get a rewarding purse win or lose. As a result we see less and less aggressive fights wherein Pacquiao’s opponents throw everything they have to score a win.

Last Sunday's bout found the audiences actually booing Mosley for overdoing his defensive stance, running around the ring after getting knocked down in Round 3. Sad to say after 12 rounds of dancing by Mosley I didn’t feel the unadulterated joy of watching the bout. Seeing Antonio Margarito bruised and bloodied is a more welcome recollection compared to watching a 39-year-old Mosley who has lost his passion for the sport and just wants to become a Hall of Famer with the untarnished record of never being knocked out in a fight.

But enough of the past, the horizon now looks brighter if and when Bob Arum finally realizes that he is slowly killing the sport to line his already fat pocket and he finds someone that can go toe to toe with Pacquiao. One thing I wish for is a second rematch between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez since the Mexican has been itching to get a third and decisive bout with Pacquiao to settle the question on who is the better fighter.

But if heaven wills it, I would surely want to see Pacquiao go up against Mayweather. That is wishful thinking since “Pretty Boy” does not want to earn less than Pacquiao nor does he want to give up his illusion that Pacquiao is using performance-enhancing drugs. Mayweather must still be stuck watching Rocky IV reruns wherein Rocky has to go up against the Russian super-boxer Ivan Drago.

Until the partying and dust settles from the last fight we would never know what to expect, but one thing I am sure that everyone agrees with me is that whoever Pacquiao fights next is another fighter not at par with his caliber. Boxing is a sport for all not just for a select few businessmen who don't care if they kill the sport as long as they fatten their bank accounts.

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