Up next for Pacquiao? Marquez, Bradley on shortlist, but not Mayweather

Some familiar names are on the list of possible opponents for Manny Pacquiao’s next fight, but not Floyd Mayweather.

According to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley, both of whom defeated Pacquiao back in 2012, are being considered as opponents for the Filipino ring icon’s next bout, tentatively slated for April 2014, based on a report by Ryan Songalia of The Ring.

Bradley earned a controversial split decision, while Marquez knocked Pacquiao out in spectacular fashion, which led to calls for the Sarangani congressman to retire from the sport. However, Pacquiao showed he’s still capable of winning in the ring, after he earned a unanimous decision on Sunday over Brandon Rios.

Arum said that on the short list of foes were Marquez, Bradley, and the Russian Ruslan Provodnikov, Pacquiao’s former sparring partner, who earlier this year dispatched Mike Alvarado, who himself defeated Rios.

“Who the opponent will be will be decided in the next couple of weeks,” Arum said.

As has been the case in recent years, the idea of Floyd Mayweather was floated around, but Roach shot it down, for now, saying, “Mayweather would be nice, but I don’t think he’s quite ready for that now.

“Mayweather has a four-fight deal with Showtime and he doesn’t have opponents to fight without Manny Pacquiao being one of them.”

The two have never met in the ring, a fight that would be one of the most anticipated in boxing history.

In September, Mayweather dispatched Mexican Saul Alvarez via majority decision, to earn THE RING magazine, WBO and WBA junior middleweight belts.

Freddie Roach, Pacquiao’s trainer, said he would prefer a fifth bout against the Mexican Marquez, though he admitted, “I’m not sure if we can get him to agree to that, he wants a lot of money.”

Bradley and Marquez actually fought each other last October, with Bradley winning a split decision to retain his WBO welterweight title. Prior to that, Marquez had said in multiple interviews that a fifth bout against Pacquiao would be “pointless.” – AMD/HS, GMA News