Manny Pacquiao Next Fight: Bob Arum Announces Two Finalists To Fight Pac-Man In Macau
Manny Pacquiao will not get revenge on his two recent losses in his next fight.
The boxer was looking to face either Timothy Bradley or Juan Manuel Marquez in his next bout, but neither will be stepping into the ring with “Pac-Man” anytime soon. Marquez and Bradley are now scheduled to fight each other on Sept. 14.
After not suffering a loss for seven years, Pacquiao has lost his last two fights. Bradley defeated him in a controversial decision for the WBO Welterweight title on June 9, 2012. Six months later, Marquez knocked out Pacquiao in the fourth ever fight between the two boxers.
With both Marquez and Bradley out of the picture, Pacquiao has set his sights elsewhere.
"The choice is between Alvarado and Rios," said boxing promoter Bob Arum.
Mike Alvarado and Brandon Rios were both considered top candidates in recent weeks. According to Arum, the fight will occur in November.
Pacquiao’s two potential opponents squared off on March 30, with Alvarez winning by a unanimous decision. It was the first loss of Rios’s career. The fight was a rematch from five months prior, in which Rios handed Alvarez his first ever loss.
It looked like Pacquiao and Marquez might be on their way to a fifth fight, but the location of the next bout may have forced a change of plans. Pacquiao has insisted that his next fight take place in Singapore or Macau, China, in order for him to avoid paying high taxes.
“Marquez-Pacquiao in the U.S. would generate incredible riches, but Marquez isn’t convinced Marquez-Pacquiao in Asia will result in the pay-per-view money being as strong,” Arum said.
A potential fight with Floyd Mayweather no longer seems to be a realistic possibility. Mayweather is scheduled to take on Robert Guerrero on May 4.
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