ShareThisLAS VEGAS — Expect world boxing icon and pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao to attract a big crowd when he fights again in Las Vegas on April 16.
The venue for his next fight was decided early but his opponent has not been identified.
Manny Pacquiao
His trainer Fredddie Roach and promoter Bob Arum are eyeing three possible opponents in the April 16 card and American champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. is not one of them.
In fact, Roach, Arum and Pacquiao will meet during his 32nd birthday party on December 17 to discuss his possible opponent in his first fight after knocking out Mexico’s Antonio Margarito.
Pacquiao’s dream fight against Mayweather loomed as the richest for both fighters, but the big prize has not attracted Mayweather.
Mayweather, meanwhile, is facing various cases, one of them involving his ex-girlfriend with whom he has two children.
He is scheduled to be arraigned in January in Las Vegas.
Fans have long wanted to see Pacquiao, 52-3 with two draws and 38 knockouts, in a showdown with the unbeaten American Mayweather, 41-0 with 25 knockouts.
Arum identified the other possible opponents of Pacquiao, namely, Mexico’s Juan Manuel Marquez, US veteran Shane Mosley or unbeaten US welterweight Andre Berto.
Arum earlier ruled out Marquez because of his small following, but Marquez has challenged the Filipino champion for their third grudge fight.
Mosley, 39, on the other hand, was overwhelmed by Mayweather in a unanimous decision loss last May and struggled to a draw against countryman Sergio Mora last September.
Berto, only 27, has less of a following but at 27-0 with 20 knockouts.
Completing a trilogy against Marquez could be enticing after Pacquiao settled for a draw in their 2004 meeting and won by split decision in 2008.
Marquez also lost to Mayweather but has defended his lightweight title twice since.