Manny Pacquiao Next Fight: 'Pacman' Could Face Juan Manuel Marquez, Kell Brook or Amir Khan, Says Trainer
Filipino boxing pride Manny Pacquiao's camp narrowed down "Pacman's" probable opponents for his comeback fight in 2016 and there's a chance he could fight his arch enemy, Juan Manuel Marquez again.
Freddie Roach revealed on ESNEWS that "Pacman," who is recovering from a shoulder injury, could have a showdown with Mexican superstar Marquez, International Boxing Federation welterweight champ Kell Brook or the World Boxing Council Silver welterweight title holder Amir Khan next year. Roach shared that Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who serves as Pacquiao's promoter, told him to pick among these three names.
"He [Arum] did tell me that Matthysse wasn't in the mix. A rematch with Marquez, Amir Khan or the other British fighter Kell Brook...Kell Brook was interested... Arum just gave me those three names, and told me to pick from those three. I picked anyone. I fear none of those guys with Pacquiao. As long as his shoulder is alright, he should be okay," the world-class trainer said, as quoted by Boxing News 24.
Arum considered World Boxing Organization junior welterweight titlist Terence Crawford and WBC Silver super lightweight titleholder Lucas Matthysse as possible immediate foes for the eight-division world champion, per a Las Vegas Review-Journal report, but it seemed that the promoter changed his mind.
Nevertheless, Roach is unfazed of all these fighters recently presented to him as he believes Philippines' "People's Champ" could easily triumph against any of these three great boxers.
Pacquiao vs. Marquez 5?
Contrary to what Boxing News 24 may be thinking that a Pacquiao-Marquez match may not fetch a good number of Pay-Per-Views, it is definitely a fight that will not just quench all their Filipino and Mexican fans' thirst of one more bout in their undying saga, but also hardcore boxing enthusiasts all over the world as well. There is just too much tension and friction between the two warriors enough to ignite any arena.
"Pacman" met the Mexican legendary fighter in 2004 and although he knocked down the then-World Boxing Association and IBF featherweight champ, the bout ended in a controversial draw, All The Best Fights noted. The Filipino boxer knocked down the Mexican warrior again in 2008 and was proclaimed the victor via a split decision, but other analysts reportedly noted that it should be "Dinamita's" win. In 2011, "Pacman" won again via a unanimous decision, but in 2012, he tasted defeat from "Dinamita" for the first time via an unforgettable knockout that terrified the boxing world, The Guardian noted.
Yet, whoever his next foe might be, "Pacman" should show what he's still capable of, especially to his own trainer, who is prepared to tell him to step out of the game when he sees him struggling during his comeback fight, Boxing Scene noted.
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