Pacquiao's Next Target

Pacquiao’s Next Target

Manny Pacquiao is on top of the ranks, therefore, he should be the one dictating the terms. Whether he decides to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. or Sugar Shane Mosley or Miguel Cotto, it will still mean business.

Manny Pacquiao wants to fight this October, that means, Mayweather will not be ready to fight him. Mayweather will be fresh from a fight against Juan Manuel Marquez this June. In addition to that, Mayweather Jr. demands a 60-40 split in his favor, which makes this dream match less likely to happen. Mayweather has to realize, with respect, that he is no longer the attraction. Mayweather is a great boxer, but Pacquiao has the control of who he wants to fight.

The Cotto vs. Pacquiao fight is also rather vague, since Cotto is not interested in fighting at a catch weight. He was already happy to leave 140, so why should he go back? He doesn’t need to suck weight anymore. However, there is still the possibility that his decision will change, because of all the money and glory that is always at stake in a Pacquiao fight. In addition to that, Pacquiao would be asking a lot of himself to fight someone as large as Cotto. Cotto might have too much strength and size for Pacquiao.

Bob Arum, the promoter of both Pacquiao and Cotto, obviously knows that a fight between Cotto and Pacquiao would likely be a blockbuster, although it is pale in comparison between Hatton-Pacquiao, De La Hoya-Pacquiao, or a possibility of a match between Mosley-Pacquiao or Mayweather-Pacquiao.

On the other hand, Sugar Shane Mosley is eager to fight Pacquiao. Unlike Cotto, he is very much willing to meet at a catch weight to make the fight happen. Mosley needs either Pacquiao or Mayweather, but he can not fight Mayweather for the same reason that Pacquiao can not fight Mayweather. Which leads us to Manny Pacquiao vs. Sugar Shane Mosley. This will be a fight where he may be able to make money more than he could ever imagine.