Manny Pacquiao is expected to return to action in 2016 as soon as he recovers from his shoulder injury.

The Filipino boxing icon's next fight is now being planned by his promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, reports BoxingNews24.com.

Arum wants Pacman to have a rematch with undefeated boxing champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. who holds a 48-0 win-loss record. However, the promoter also has a plan B for Pacquiao - a showdown with the current World Boxing Organization light welterweight champion Terence Crawford who also carries an impressive record of 26-0 win-loss record and got 18 knockout victories to boot.

The 36-year-old Filipino fighter sustained a shoulder injury while training for his battle at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas with "The Money." His loss on May 2 and his injury made several boxing aficionados question the Filipino fighter's career in the future.

Even the Philippine president, Benigno Aquino III, advised the boxer to spend more time with his family and retire as "continued fighting in the ring does not promote good health," GMA Network reported on April 28, a few days before the Megafight.

Still, in the eyes of Arum, Mayweather's win over Pacquiao is "indecisive," with the promoter thinking that Pacman edged over Mayweather in seven of the 12 rounds, adds BoxingNews24.com.

With a Mayweather rematch possibly gone, a financially successful succeeding fight for Pacquiao may also be lost. Since the last bout between the two best fighters of this generation was a disappointment, there's also a possibility they will not reap great money with a rematch, if it happens.

"He's [Pacquiao] going to go right to an elite fighter. I would rather him fight Terence Crawford. The money that was made in the last fight [against Mayweather], and a rematch wouldn't do as well, but it would still do tremendous, bigger than any other fight. I think that if the Mayweather people want the rematch, we would be willing to do it," Arum told ESNews.

Pacquiao's training coach, Freddie Roach, also said that for Pacquiao to lure Mayweather into fighting him again, he must have an impressive comeback after that loss.

"I think he's [Pacquiao] got a couple of fights left in him. Would he [Mayweather] give him a rematch? Yes. Is that possible? I'm not sure. It's going to have to be a tough opponent, of course," Roach said via Thaboxingvoice.

If the aim is to stage a better fight for Pacquiao, a bout with Terence Crawford - who is more or less popular only to hardcore boxing fans - will not do him much good, says BoxingNews24.com. The site recommends that "Pacman" fight the likes of Amir Khan, Saul "Canelo" Alvarez, Gennady Golovkin, Kell Brook, Marcos Maidana or Miguel Cotto, instead, so Pacquiao can show his boxing skills and at the same time, gain financial success as well.

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