Manny Pacquiao: Fighters Pac-Man Should Focus on Instead of Timothy Bradley

Manny Pacquiao has nothing left to prove by fighting Timothy Bradley again and he should move on to a boxer that will give him more of a challenge.

Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum said it best, via Ray Brewer of the Las Vegas Sun.

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I don’t want to do a rematch. This fight was a one-sided fight. If it had been scored properly — 10-2 or 9-3 — who would be asking for a rematch? Nobody. Just because these officials screwed up, that doesn’t justify a rematch. 

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Pac-Man dominated Bradley, and the only achievement possible in a rematch is the formality of getting his belt back.

This is not worth his time, as there are other quality fighters out there. Here are three boxers Pacquiao should fight next instead of agreeing to a rematch with Bradley.

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

This is the fight that all boxing fans still want to see, and if Pacquiao defeated Mayweather, the Bradley fight would be a distant memory. 

Pacquiao proved without a doubt that he is still one of the two top fighters in the welterweight divisions. 

Even with his controversial loss to Bradley and Mayweather’s jail sentence, there are no two fighters capable of putting on a better bout. 

All of Arum’s talk about eschewing a rematch may mean he is finally ready to agree to terms for this fight. Hopefully this is the case, and Mayweather will be Pacquiao’s next opponent.

Juan Manuel Marquez

If Mayweather is unavailable or unwilling to fight, Marquez is the next best option for Pacquiao.

No fighter has Pac-Man’s number like Marquez. The two boxers have gone toe-to-toe in three wildly entertaining fights. The first bout was declared a draw, with Pacquiao taking the next two in a split decision and a majority decision, respectively. 

Next to Mayweather and Pacquiao, Marquez has proven over a long and distinguished career that he is the best fighter of a similar size.

Pacquiao would do himself no disservice by agreeing to a fight with Marquez instead of a rematch with Bradley. 

Victor Ortiz

Ortiz will be a worthy opponent for Pacquiao, especially if he wins his upcoming fight against Josesito Lopez in Los Angeles on June 23.

This bout was supposed to be against Andre Berto, but Berto tested positive for steroids.

Ortiz is a charismatic fighter who will be coming off of a high profile fight against Lopez. If he wins, Ortiz will then fight Saul Alvarez. 

Ortiz is definitely the third option behind the first two boxers mentioned. However, his personality and fighting style would make him a much better opponent than Bradley.

Pacquiao should fight either one of these three fighters before agreeing to a Bradley rematch.