NO OPPONENT YET FOR MANNY PACQUIAO
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 13 Dec 2015
There was no announcement on who will be Manny Pacquiao's next opponent in his final ring appearance come April 9, 2016. It was earlier reported that the fighting congressman will name his next foe, whether Timothy Bradley or Terence Crawford, during the Nonito Donaire-Cesar Juarez WBO junior featherweight championship in "MetroPCS Friday Night Knockout" card on truTV in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
But Bob Arum spokesman Fred Sternburg told ESPN: "I was asked to tell you on Bob's behalf that, unfortunately, Top Rank will not have an announcement on truTV as originally planned as Manny is not ready to make a decision on his opponent yet."
Bradley was in Puerto Rico as a ringside commentator for truTV during the Donaire-Juarez clash. While Crawford was also there on a vacation. Both prospects were still in a quandary who between them will face the former pound-for-pound king of the world.
Amir Khan was not considered anymore because he was working with Al Haymon, Arum's rival, and was slated to face IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook.
Both Bradley and Crawford are contracting with Top Rank, Arum's outfit. WBO welterweight champion Bradley has a record of 33-1-1, 13 KO's and unbeaten WBO junior welterweight titlist and 2014 fighter of the year Crawford is 27-0, 19 KO's.
There were rumors that Pacquiao wanted Bradley because he was familiar with his style and Manny wanted to end his career with a big win. However, reports had it that Arum's choice is Crawford, which is younger and more dangerous. Arum needs to promote Crawford as his next popular fighter when Pacquiao retires.
According to Chris Williams of Boxing News 24: "It would have been a tremendous letdown for Bradley for Pacquiao or Arum to reveal that Crawford is the one that got the fight instead of him. So instead of the news for Pacquiao?s next fight being revealed tonight, it?s going to be revealed later."
Arum guaranteed Pacquiao $20 million in his farewell fight and his opponent will rake in a huge amount too in addition to pay-per-view shares.
"Manny told me this would be his last fight and I'm not sad about it because he's going on to a political career which will require a lot of mental acuity, so you don't want him to stay in boxing too long. If he stays in boxing a little too long his mental faculties might be somewhat impaired," Arum told ESPN.
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