Pacquiao ready to face challengers if no deal with Floyd Jr in 2012

Though Floyd Mayweather Jr. is his priority opponent for 2012, world boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said he is ready to take on anyone who is willing to face him inside the ring if and when no deal is reached in the current negotiations being made between his camp and the group of the unbeaten American.  

"I'm willing to fight anyone. Whether its Mayweather, Marquez or (Timothy) Bradley," said Pacquiao in Filipino. The 32-year-old Pacquiao is also not counting out reigning World Boxing Council (WBC) light-middleweight king Miguel Cotto, whom he dethroned as World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion two years ago.  

But Pacquiao said a rematch with Cotto depends largely on Top Rank Promotions chairman Bob Arum, who, Pacquiao believes, has a grand plan of pitting the Puerto Rican champion against WBC middleweight title holder Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.  

Cotto's name once again came into the picture after his sensational 10th round destruction of hated nemesis Antonio Margarito of Mexico in their title fight in New York City on Saturday (Sunday in Manila).  

Pacquiao also advised the towering Margarito to finally retire from boxing or risk the possibility of getting blind on his right eye.  

"His eye might get damaged," said Pacquiao of Margarito, who he dominated in a lopsided 12-round decision last year at the Cowboy Stadium in Arlington, Texas in a fight that saw the Mexican suffering a fracture on the orbital bone of his right eye.  

But Pacquiao did admit that talks with the Mayweather camp about finally making the fight everybody has all been waiting for by next year is going smoothly. — JVP, GMA News