Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather: 3 Fighters Pacquiao Will Face Instead

Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO) is set to face undefeated American champ Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO) on June 9.

The one undefeated American the world wants to see Pacquiao face is Floyd Mayweather (42-0, 26 KO). Unfortunately, the fight has been blocked by the two superstars' egos among other things.

Pacquiao's team are betting on Bradley's status as an undefeated American to sell the HBO pay-per-view. If the public buys it, Pacquiao won't need Mayweather to produce a lucrative fight.

Should Pacquiao defeat Bradley, here are three fights that could actually happen instead of the nearly impossible fight versus Mayweather.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Brandon Rios at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX

Pacquiao is coming off an impressive performance against an American undefeated fighter. What's next for the Filipino hero? How can he possibly top himself?

Why not go after a Mexican undefeated fighter?

Brandon Rios (29-0-1, 22 KO) has one of the toughest chins in boxing right now. His aggression and always forward progression will make for an exciting and action-packed fight.

He hits hard and blows up 20 pounds easily after the weigh-in. Despite fighting in the lightweight (135 lbs), Rios could outweigh welterweight (147 lbs) champ Pacquiao on fight night.

Rios is being prepared to face Mexican legend Juan Manuel Marquez if he should beat his April 14 opponent Richard Abril (17-2-1, 8 KO). Abril can't beat Rios and will serve simply as a tune-up.

Rios vs. Marquez is being discussed to take place at Cowboys Stadium on July 14. Rios has the youth and aggression. Marquez has the experience.

If the fight is built up well and delivers the action and competitiveness it surely promises on paper, Rios could find himself in the ring across from Pacquiao win or lose. People will pay for fireworks.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Juan Manuel Marquez at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, TX

Juan Manuel Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KO) may be 38 years old, but he gave Pacquiao his toughest fight in years during their third fight together last November.

The history between the two and the fact that Pacquiao has blitzed or dominated most of his opponents in the last few years of his career will cause this fight to sell amazingly well.

The one factor that could help it is if it's on Mexican soil. The decisions that Pacquiao has won against Marquez have come under heavy public scrutiny and every fight has occurred in Las Vegas.

Now Pacquiao may not go so far as to step in Mexico, Marquez's home country, to guarantee fairness, but Texas is certainly as close to a fair environment as Marquez can get.

Marquez has a tune-up on April 14 in Mexico before facing young stud Brandon Rios on July 14 at Cowboys Stadium. This fight between a Mexican legend and a rising Mexican star is a taste-tester.

If two Mexican stars, including "the one who schooled Pacquiao" in some circles, come together in Texas and the fight is properly promoted, Cowboys Stadium will explode.

And that's without Pacquiao.

Add in a superstar of Pacquiao's status against the winner of that Mexican standoff and you have a certified hit. Marquez may finally get the fair judging he feels he's been robbed of elsewhere.

Texas loves Mexican fighters and maybe Marquez might find himself to be in a more comfortable position versus Pacquiao in the fall should he dispose of Rios is fantastic fashion.

Manny Pacquiao vs. Mike Jones at MGM Grand in Las Vegas

Pacquiao could always use another undefeated black American fighter to use as a statement of what he would've done to Mayweather if they had ever fought.

Enter Mike Jones (26-0, 19 KO), undefeated black American welterweight, who may be holding a world title soon.

Jones takes on Randall Bailey (41-7, 36 KO) on the Pacquiao-Bradley undercard. The winner nets the vacant IBF world title.

With that belt, that would make a fight against Pacquiao a unification match. "Champion against champion" is a tried and true way to sell a major fight.

Jones is more of a slick boxer and is far less aggressive than Bradley or Marquez. Pacquiao would have a lot of pressure on him to press the fight. But if a fight versus Mayweather doesn't happen, this is it.