By James Slater: Who should superstar Manny Pacquiao fight next? Due to the massive outcry over the controversial scoring of the two officials that saw 33-year-old Pac-Man lose to underdog Tim Bradley last weekend, millions of fans want to see a rematch of that fight, so as to see justice served (most people, the same ones who are convinced Pacquiao easily beat Bradley, see Pac-Man scoring a KO in a sequel).
But promoter Bob Arum is cool on the idea of a rematch, stating that many fans are far from interested themselves. Two other options for Pacquiao, according to a piece on Ringtv.com, are return fights with Juan Manuel Marquez and Miguel Cotto. If many fans wish to see Pacquiao fight Bradley again so the bad decision can be at least partially erased, many more wish to see a Pacquiao-Marquez IV for pretty much the same reason. The majority of fans feel “Dinamita” deserved the verdict after the third fight with Pacquiao; some even stating that the November 2011 majority verdict that went Manny’s way was worse than Bradley’s points win over the Filipino icon.
Marquez, who scored the Bradley fight for Pacquiao by a margin of 8 to 4, told Ringtv.com that there are talks of him possibly facing Pacquiao on November 10th (the working date for Pac-Bradley II), maybe in Mexico. Marquez says he has to wait to hear what Arum says, but that he is very much up for the fourth fight. This one would be big, with an added twist attached if the fight did mark Pac-Man’s Mexican debut.
But Pacquiao’s advisor, Michael Koncz, says there is another option: that of a Pacquiao rematch with Miguel Cotto. Koncz, who said nothing has been confirmed right now and that nothing will be until after Team-Pacquiao have had their vacation, said a Cotto rematch “could take place at a different weight.” Back in November of 2009, Pac-Man and Cotto fought at a catch-weight of 145-pounds, with Pacquiao winning a good action fight in the 12th-round via TKO. Maybe, in a return up at a full 147, the Puerto Rican legend would have a better shot at winning?
Of the three potential fights – Pacquiao-Marquez IV, Bradley II and Cotto II – I’d personally prefer to see Marquez IV, then Bradley II. As brave as Cotto was against Floyd Mayweather last month, and as exciting as Cotto always is, I see no real point in a return with Pac-Man taking place.
Bottom line: Pacquiao has unfinished business with Marquez and Bradley. Pac-Man has already beaten Cotto in comprehensive fashion.