Manny Pacquiao Is Hurting His Image with Drawn Out Opponent Decision

As the long, drawn out decision to who Manny Pacquiao's next opponent will be drags on, the more Pac-Man's reputation is taking a hit.

There are two fighters that are said to be in contention for the bout, as Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez are the pair of fighters "Pac-Man" is mulling over (per The Ring).

Both fighters have met Pacquiao before, and both have been apart of controversial decisions—with Bradley being on the winning side of a controversial decision this past June and Marquez getting the short end of the stick on three separate occasions, resulting in two losses and one draw.

There is no reason why Pacquiao should be making his decision such a long process, because both fights offer no real difference in meaning to "Pac-Man's" career.

Pacquiao would be wise to fight both fighters one more time before his career is over, so he should pick the fight he feels will best prepare him for a possible showdown with the undefeated Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year (per Boxing Scene).

Holding out on who he will face would only make sense if he had a behind the scenes plan to face Mayweather next, but we all know that is highly unlikely and the fact that the hope is kept alive for such a scenario with Pacquiao's delayed decision makes this whole process that much worse.

Speculation over what is taking so long is all bad for Pacquiao's image, as many feel that "Pac-Man" may feel the opponents at-hand aren't worthy or that the Filipino fighter is losing interest in the sport itself.

For the sake of Pacquiao's reputation, his camp would be wise to announce his next opponent before this weekend is over. Doing so would help his fans and the boxing public move on and quit viewing the former welterweight champ in a negative manner, instead shifting their attention to the fight he chooses to take in December instead.