Filipino boxing champion Manny Pacquiao is still in the sidelines after undergoing surgery for his injured shoulder but it seems to be a given that the fighting Filipino pride from Saranggani proving is far from finished as far as boxing is concerned.
After his loss last May 2, 2015 to Floyd Mayweather Jr. at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, there were calls for Pacquiao to retire as he has nothing else to prove other than possibly a rematch with Mayweather.
However, a second fight with the undefeated American seems improbable at this point, seeing that Mayweather did retract his earlier offer to a rematch with Pacquiao in 2016 due to the celebrated injured-shoulder rapport that led to Mayweather calling Pacquiao a "sore loser."
Trainer Freddie Roach practically shares the same sentiment, seeing a Mayweather rematch as doubtful.
Regardless, Roach believes that Pacquiao is not quite ready to hang up his gloves just yet.
“He’s still having a lot of fun with it, he loves the sport, I think he’s gotta couple of fights left in him,” Roach was quoted as saying to USA TODAY. “But the thing is, is a rematch (with Floyd Mayweather) possible? I’m not sure.”
Pacquiao may return to the boxing ring as early as March, 2016 though it remains to be seen who he could possibly face.
Promoter Bob Arum did mention a couple of possible names. The list includes Kell Brook, Terrence Crawford and Lucas Matthyse.
That list of names are a tough crop, something that Roach feels would be proper for Pacquiao to prove that he still has it.
“I think that’s what we’re looking for, (to beat someone conclusively), so it’s going to have to be a tough opponent” say Roach in the same interview.
The stigma of that defeat against Mayweather is apparently still stinging in the air and a statement win may very well erase that unfortunate defeat.
There was no mention on who of the three are preferred by Pacquiao and camp though he is expected to have his hands full.
Brook is set to face off against a former Pacquiao foe in Brandon Rios this September 12 and will be a tough fighter to crack. Fresh and young, handler Eddie Hearn believes that Brook will pummel Pacquiao if they end up meeting next year.
Terrence Crawford is another fighter that is also thrown into the mix, an undefeated fighter and someone that Paul Malignaggi believes Pacquiao should seriously consider facing.
Lucas Matthyse, who is set to face Viktor Postol this coming fall for the WBC junior welterweight title is an aggressive brawler that could account for an exciting exchange with Pacquiao. Of the three mentioned names, Matthyse is said to be the toughest of them all which could be the challenge Roach may be looking for on behalf of Pacquiao.
Pacquiao is considering sliding down to the 140-pound weight class where Crawford and Matthyse are at right now.
With that said, Pacquiao fans will have to wait for the Spring to see the Filipino fighter back in harness. But for now, it remains to be seen who he would face.
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