Filipino boxer and lawmaker Manny Pacquiao is still on the road to recovery after undergoing surgery for his injured shoulder, but it is believed that the eight-time division champion will be headed back into the ring as early as the first quarter of 2016.
There is no word yet on who Pacquiao could possibly face though the names of Keith Thurman, Amir Khan and Timothy Bradley Jr. are lingering up in the air.
How about Floyd Mayweather Jr.?
Mayweather did initially hint at possibly facing Pacquiao again in 2016, but the undefeated American boxer retracted that offer after Pacquiao revealed the real score about his injured shoulder. Mayweather called Pacquiao a “sore loser” and advised Pacquiao to simply take his defeat in stride.
To this day, Mayweather continues to toy around with Pacquiao, the last of which was the celebrated Instagram video where he made fun of a dummy (supposedly to be Pacquiao).
Aside from that there is no indication (for now) that a Mayweather vs. Pacquiao rematch will happen though it is not entirely discounted.
With regards to the likes of Khan, Thurman and Bradley, anyone could be a potential opponent.
Thurman, the undefeated American boxer who is set to face off against Luis Collazo, has been mentioned as a leading opponent and someone who could seriously give Pacquiao problems. Thurman holds a 25-0 record, 21 by knockout.
Amir Khan, on the other hand, is nothing new. Before the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight took place, the camps of both Khan and Pacquiao were already in talks of a possible fight later this year. All that had changed of course when Mayweather agreed to fight Pacquiao last May 2.
Khan is a strong contender to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. this coming September though he has to contend with Mayweather’s preferred two opponents – Andre Berto and Karim Mayfield – first.
The last name in the mix is not a new name to Pacquiao, Timothy Bradley Jr.
Both fighters have faced off before with Bradley winning the first and Pacquiao storming back to take the rematch. Could a decider be in the works?
Bradley is coming of another controversial win against Jesse Vargas and is the current WBO welterweight champion. That controversy has been put to rest when the WBO ruled against a rematch though Jesse Vargas is appealing the decision
Bradley was actually the interim champion before the WBO stripped Floyd Mayweather of that right for failing to settle sanctioning fees last July 3.
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