Pacquiao vs. Marquez 3: After Epic Bout, Floyd Mayweather Is All That Remains

I wish I could tell you that Manny Pacquiao will be fighting Floyd Mayweather in his next bout, but sadly, I cannot. I can, however, offer that the chances are much better than they used to be. 

ESPN quotes Pacquiao's famed trainer Freddie Roach, who is confident that Pac-Man's next opponent is the one that we all want to see in the ring. 

That is great news considering that fight we just received and the news that followed it. As the report asserts, Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum is keen on seeing a Pacquiao vs. Marquez IV before he would sit down with Mayweather's people again. 

I can see where Arum is coming from. The promoter can find easy money in a fourth bout between two great boxers instead of going through what is sure to be months of negotiations and possible dead ends with Mayweather. 

I get that. The obvious choice for Pac-Man is to fight Marquez once again from an ease point of view. It is hard to believe that an already aged Marquez will give an even better performance than he did last weekend. 

That was the best we have seen from Marquez, and he still couldn't sway the judges. His frustrations may be too great to expect him to step into the ring. 

As for Roach, he is singing our tune. The trainer told ESPN: 

"

The Mayweather fight is the one the whole world wants to see, everywhere I go fans tell me that. For me, Mayweather is the number one choice to fight next. I'm trying to get hold of Manny, to get his feelings on it. If the choice is $30 million to fight Marquez or Mayweather for $100 million in the biggest fight of all time, I'm sure he'd go for Mayweather. But I haven't had the chance to talk to him.

"

From one of the men closest to Pacquiao comes the clearest sign that a bout with Mayweather is not far off, despite what we have heard from Arum. 

It is all on Pacquiao now. The boxer has too much clout to be denied. If he wants Money May in the ring, he will get him. 

Here is to hoping that Pacquiao truly is what we all assumed he was, a great fighter who would never back down from anyone. Mayweather is there; now go get him, Pacquiao.