The Manny Pacquiao Sweepstakes

If you search for Manny Pacquiao's name in boxrec.com, you'll see the usual personal profile of the Filipino fighter (his age, birth date, division, stance, height, and reach among others) as well as his fight record (49 wins, 37 by knockout, three losses, and two draws for a total of 54 fights) and bout history. You'll also see his fight schedule, with his next bout this year penciled for October 17. The venue? The United States of course. The opponent?

 

A big question mark.

 

Not that Pacquiao is suddenly running out of opponents. In fact, several fighters within range of the lightweight division until upwards of welterweight have been calling him out. Michael Katsidis has challenged him, offering to fight Pacquiao in his own turf. Sugar Shane Mosley issued in a press release that he is willing to fight Pacquiao at a catch weight, possibly three pounds south of the welterweight limit. Antonio Margarito, who has stated that he might be stepping in the ring soon after being suspended by the California State Athletic Commission for the illegal hand wrap fiasco, is also interested in landing a fight with Pacquiao. Current WBO World Light Welterweight Champion Timothy Bradley, after defeating Kendall Holt last April, also joined the fray.

 

There's also talk of Pacquiao facing either Juan Manuel Marquez or Floyd Mayweather Jr., depending on the outcome of their bout next month.

 

Of course, there's Miguel Cotto, Pacquiao's stablemate (who, by the way, seems to be the most favored by Bob Arum as a potential opponent for Pacquiao) who still needs to get past the tough guy from Ghana, Joshua Clottey.

 

So you see, quite a few marquee names are being lined up for the Pacman. However, it seems that Pacquiao is taking his sweet time and studying his options carefully. After all, he is top dog now and he can fight whoever he wants to.

 

Let's take time to analyze each opponent vying for the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes:

 

•        Katsidis is fresh from a TKO victory over Jesus Chavez last April. Chavez is always a tough, live wire opponent. He beat dangerous Carlos Hernandez and won the IBF lightweight title from the late Leavander Johnson. He also gave a prime Erik Morales all he could handle before losing via unanimous  decision. But Chavez is already 36 years of age and the wear and tear of grueling fights have taken its toll on him. I am not knocking this particular win by Katsidis, but if you want a crack at Pacquiao at this stage of the Filipino superstar's career, you need to fight prime opponents to be considered a viable option. Unless of course Pacquiao is looking for a “tuneup” fight. Also, recent losses to Juan Diaz and Joel Casamayor aren't exactly welcome additions to Katsidis' resume.

 

•        At 37, Mosley is no spring chicken and is looking for the biggest fights available before he can hang up his gloves. The one fighter that could give him his biggest purse at this time is, of course, Pacquiao. However, because Mosley has campaigned at higher weight divisions in the past years and Pacquiao only recently climbed up several weight divisions, the only solution is for both fighters to fight at a catch weight. Mosley has already agreed to go down in weight and even take a smaller purse but Pacquiao isn't taking the bait just yet.

 

•        Even if there is any truth to Margarito's claim that he will sooner than later lace up his gloves again, I don't think Pacquiao will just be that eager to face the Tijuana Tornado inside the ring. I feel that Margarito is just too big and strong for Pacquiao and I'm pretty sure even Freddie Roach will agree with me.

 

•        Bradley is an interesting name thrown into the mix and personally, I'm wondering why he is not one of the stronger candidates to face Pacquiao.

 

•        Win or lose against Marquez, Mayweather doesn't want to fight Pacquiao. Enough said.

 

•        Marquez needs to beat Mayweather for a third fight with Pacquiao to materialize. And it's not going to be easy.

 

•        Even if Cotto gets past Clottey, he still won't be a guaranteed opponent for Pacquiao since he already stated that he is staying at 147. We'll see if he sticks to his statement once the bucks roll in.

 

So, at this point, there are more questions than answers and only one thing's for certain:

 

Whoever wins the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes will be laughing all the way to the bank.