Manny Pacquiao: Who Will Be Next to Step into the Ring with Pac Man?

Manny Pacquiao is currently preparing to face Juan Manuel Marquez for a third time in Las Vegas this Saturday. Most observers expect Pacquiao to produce a victory over Marquez and bring an end to one of the sport’s great trilogies.

If and when Marquez is dispatched, thoughts will immediately turn to who will be the next opponent for Pac Man as he continues his Hall of Fame career.

While the name of Floyd Mayweather Jr. immediately springs to mind and is the fight most fans want to see, there are also some other options that could generate revenue and interest for Manny—as well as adding one more quality win to his astounding resume.

Here we look at five possible next opponents in the career of Manny Pacquiao after this Saturday. 

Amir Khan

Amir Khan is a rising star of the fight game, and is currently ranked by The Ring magazine as the No. 1 light-welterweight in the sport.

Khan has a burgeoning resume that includes wins over Zab Judah, Marcos Maidana, Paulie Malignaggi and Marco Antonio Barrera.

Another interesting angle is that Pacquiao and Khan train together on a regular basis at the Wild Card Gym in Los Angeles. This means both men would have a good insight into each other’s strengths and weaknesses and be fully prepared.

In the past it has been reported that the two would never fight, but Freddie Roach recently acknowledged the possibility of the fight, stating the fight “would sell.”

Bearing in mind that Khan now has replaced Ricky Hatton as the No. 1 fighter in the eyes of a passionate British fanbase, it is a guarantee that the fight would generate huge revenue.

In today’s inbred world of promoting and matchmaking, contract negotiations would also be smooth, with both men being in the same camp.

Timothy Bradley

Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley is ranked in The Ring magazine’s top 10 pound-for-pound list, and has ran up an impressive career record of 21-0 after beating Devon Alexander last time out.

Bradley is staying close to Pacquiao by boxing on this Saturday’s undercard against Joel Casamayor. A victory and good performance in that fight would put him in the shop window for a fight against the Pac Man.

It is well known that Bob Arum has a controlling influence on who Manny does and does not fight, and to that end Bradley recently made the smart decision of signing up with Top Rank promotions, paving a smoother path to any future potential fight.

Bradley would be an underdog in the Pacquiao fight, but his toughness and work ethic would ensure a solid battle that could prove brutal.

Sergio Martinez

There are few fighters around who would not be a huge underdog if they stepped into the ring with Manny Pacquiao, but Sergio Martinez may just be one of them.

Ever since knocking Paul Williams out cold with one of the best punches of this century, the man known as "Maravilla" has found quality opponents difficult to come by.

Martinez has a relatively mediocre fanbase and has struggled to tie down big name opposition since his brutal demolition of Williams.

Maravilla is recognized as the linear middleweight champion, and also is number No. 3 in The Ring magazine’s pound-for-pound ratings behind Pacquiao and Mayweather.

Bob Arum has stated that this fight is a possibility, with measures such as a catch-weight or a same day weigh-in being implemented.

This is one of the few fights around that possesses a high level of risk for Pac Man. Some observers believe Martinez is simply too big and too strong for the Filipino great, but hasn’t Manny heard that all before?

Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. is universally hated among Pacquiao supporters, but he is the opponent the whole boxing world would love to see Manny step into the ring with.

Team Mayweather is teasing fans all over the world yet again by confirming Floyd would return to the ring in May 2012, and would be looking for a potential fight with the Pac Man.

Not only would this contest likely be the highest revenue generating fight of all time, it would also be one of the most highly anticipated sporting events on earth.

The fight would have a defining impact on the legacies of both men and take its place among the greatest clashes in boxing history.

Sadly, a never-ending drug test debate and ego clashes in both camps mean we may never see these two men in the same ring.

Nobody

This is indeed a tragic thought for Pacquiao fans, but the possibility of Manny retiring and moving on with other ventures in his life cannot be ignored.

Pacquiao has previously stated he plans to retire in 2013, but you have to wonder if there are enough quality opponents around to keep him interested that long.

In the HBO 24/7 series before the Antonio Margarito fight, trainer Freddie Roach showed displeasure at how many outside interests Pacquiao was developing.

Pacquiao is becoming a best-selling musician in the Philippines and also has a political career that many believe will see him reach the very top.

Without the Mayweather fight, you have to question what Manny can achieve in the sport that he has not already done.

Speaking before the Margarito contest Freddie Roach himself suggested Manny may have reached the plateau of his greatness.  “If there is no fight with Mayweather, where else do we have to go?”