Floyd Mayweather Jr: If Not Manny Pacquiao, Who Can He Fight Next?

Everyone is awaiting the quick return of Floyd Mayweather Jr (42-0, 26 KO) in 2012, and even though an opponent is unnamed, there are only so many he can choose from.

The following boxers are all possible opponents for the WBC welterweight champion, and none of them are Manny Pacquiao, who recently defeated Juan Manuel Marquez by majority-decision on Nov. 12. It was a controversial bout that may or may not help the Mayweather fight come to fruition even faster. It is the superfight that everyone has been calling for, and it doesn't seem to be happening anytime soon.

Without Pacquiao, these are possible opponents Mayweather could face in his next fight.

No. 5: Winner of Amir Khan vs. Lamont Peterson

Amir Khan (26-1, 18 KO) and Lamont Peterson (29-1-1, 15 KO) will fight on December 10, and it could be the fight that determines the next challenger for the top boxers in the welterweight division.

Both have fought former Mayweather opponents. Khan fought Zab Judah earlier this year and defeated him by knockout in the fifth round. Peterson fought Victor Ortiz last year and earned a hard-fought draw against him.

Neither of these two will get through this fight easily, and they might be the most underrated challengers for the undefeated Mayweather.

No. 4: Erik Morales (52-7, 36 KO)

Mexican legend and current WBC light welterweight champion Erik Morales is one of the most respected boxers in the sport, and a fight with Mayweather could be the last fight of his career, win or lose.

There has been some speculation of a potential match up with Morales and Mayweather early next year, and it's one that wouldn't surprise many if it happened.

Morales came out of a three-year retirement in 2010 to go 4-1 with his only loss coming against Marcos Maidana.

No. 3: Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12 KO)

WBO light welterweight champion Timothy Bradley recently extended his undefeated record after knocking out Joel Casamayor on the undercard of the Pacquiao-Marquez pay-per-view event. It was his first stoppage victory since 2007.

When an opportunity to accept a fight with Amir Khan passed by earlier this year, Bradley was criticized for not fighting the only man that sits in front of him in the light welterweight rankings. That came after he defeated the previously unbeaten champion Devon Alexander.

A fight with Mayweather might not be the most intriguing, but it does put two undefeated and determined boxers against each other.

No. 2: Sergio Martinez (48-2-2, 27 KO)

Former middleweight champion Sergio Martinez is one of the leading pound-for-pound stars in the sport right now, and he has looked nearly flawless in every bout.

With only one disputed defeat in the last 10 years, Martinez has beaten many of the best boxers in his division, including Paul Williams, Kelly Pavlik and Serhiy Dzinziruk. His KO over Williams in their 2010 rematch was voted knockout of the year.

With speed and excellent counter-punching, Martinez has the type of style that could work well against Mayweather, who would have to move up in weight to face the 36-year-old.

No. 1: Winner of Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito

One of the last great fights of 2011 will be a rematch featuring Miguel Cotto (36-2, 29 KO), who is going up against the first man to beat him in Antonio Margarito (38-7, 27 KO), on Dec. 3.

When Margarito was considered one of the most avoided boxers years ago, Mayweather declined millions of dollars to face the former welterweight champion.

Margarito would have trouble gaining acclaim for his accomplishments before accepting a fight with Cotto in 2008. Margarito would stop Cotto in Round 11 of one of the best fights of the year.

Cotto also tried to get a fight with Mayweather but decided to take on Margarito instead.

Neither of the two are arguably what they were a few years back, but a fight with Mayweather could still be one that many boxing fans wouldn't mind watching.