Will Pacquiao Take on Mosley, Berto, Marquez or Someone Else?
The date for Manny Pacquiao’s next fight has been set, and it’s going to be May 7th, 2010. The fight of course will be a pay-per-view event, and the likely venue is going to be the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, NV. While the date for the next Pacquiao fight is set, Pacquiao’s future opponent is still unknown, and there are a few names in the mix.
Boxing fans of course would love to see Manny Pacquiao take on Floyd Mayweather. But with his ongoing legal troubles and his inactivity, it seems like a Pacquiao vs. Mayweather contest isn’t even on the radar screen right now. Make no mistake about it though, if it’s at all possible, that’s the big fight on the best weekend of the year to have it made, so even if there is no public talk about it, there will certainly be behind the scenes maneuvering.
The next top choice for most boxing fans would be middleweight champion Sergio Martinez. However, he isn’t being mentioned as one of the favorites either at this point. The list of the three most likely candidates includes Shane Mosley, Juan Manuel Marquez and Andre Berto.
These three opponents would fall into varying scales of intrigue or acceptability for a Pacquiao opponent. Mosley seems all but shot after being dominated by Mayweather and struggling to a draw against Sergio Mora. Marquez and Pacquiao have unsettled business to finish, but Marquez does not seem to be able to compete at the higher weights like Pacquiao can, potentially making the bout less competitive. Berto is a young champion but is largely untested, and is not a household name.
As for the date for the next Pacquiao fight, it was chosen for several reasons. First, it works with Pacquiao’s congressional schedule in the Philippines. Next, it’s a great time on the schedule in order to maximize PPV sales in terms of competing with other events in boxing and with the UFC. Finally, it’s Cinco de Mayo weekend, which is typically the biggest boxing weekend in the country, and it’s traditionally home to a large PPV event for the past several years.
Keep on tuning on for more updates regarding Pacquiao and his next fight. One thing is certain, it’s going to be on May 7th, 2011, and it’s likely to be held in Las Vegas. But who will be the man to win the Pacquiao sweepstakes, and who should it be?
