MACAU – You can count some very good names out as Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent.
Renowned matchmaker Bruce Trampler sat down with Pacquiao’s chief adviser, Mike Koncz, yesterday at The Venetian Hotel.
Trampler told Pinoy scribes that Pacquiao wants to do five more fights before he considers retiring in 2016. Bob Arum has penciled Nov. 23 for his next fight although it was reported that it may even be pushed to September.
Juan Manuel Marquez has fought Pacquiao four times, each fight as controversial and as exciting as the other. But a fifth fight is not the best fight for the Filipino superstar out there.
With his stunning knockout win over Pacquiao in 2012, Marquez has put a hefty price tag on himself if it’s a fight involving Pacquiao.
“Manny would fight Marquez but Marquez is at a point where he wants to get his biggest payday. He wants the money that Manny wants,†Trampler said.
“That’s very difficult a very expensive fight,†the Hall-of-Fame matchmaker added of the Mexican who may be asking for at least $10 million to face Pacquiao again.
Koncz said it’s not going to happen.
Trampler said Floyd Mayweather Jr. isn’t on his mind right now, either.
“He’s had so many opportunities to say, ‘Yes,’ and he’s come up with so many excuses that I don’t really consider him anymore,†said Trampler.
Also not in Trampler’s mind right now is Canelo Alvarez simply because the Mexican is too big for Pacquiao.
“Canelo is way too big at 154 pounds. Amir Khan is a possibility. (Mike) Alvarado no. (Tim) Bradley, we’ve done that twice. And Danny Garcia is also a possibility,†said Trampler.
“We hope to come up with good names by the time Manny retires so he can run for office (in 2016). I don’t know if there are five guys out there who qualify,†he added.