Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has recently listed five possible opponents of Pacquiao which include Amir Khan, Terence Crawford, Kell Brook, Lucas Matthysse and Juan Manuel Marquez.
Looking at the challengers’ profiles and affiliations with their respective boxing promoters, it appears that Matthysse and Crawford will remain in the list when the promoters go through the process of elimination.
Arum will have a hard time negotiating for a Pacquiao-Khan fight because he is reportedly not on speaking terms with Khan’s handler, Al Haymon.
Khan has recently left Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and moved over to Haymon, apparently to boost his chance of landing a fight with Floyd Mayweather. Haymon is Mayweather’s close friend and adviser.
In his statement after signing up with Haymon early this year, Khan said: “I am very happy to have signed with Al Haymon who has not only shown that he is a very astute businessman but is extremely knowledgeable of the fight game and always has his fighters’ best interests at heart. I’m looking forward to building a long and successful relationship during this exciting stage of my career.”
Instead of trying his luck on Haymon, Arum would rather sit down with the promoters of Brook and Marquez.
In Brook’s case, Arum isn’t sure if a Pacquiao-Brook fight will make money since the British fighter is still unknown as a pay-per-view (PPV) attraction.
Marquez would be a good choice in terms of the fight’s financial viability as the famous Mexican counter-puncher is a proven PPV attraction but he is reportedly struggling with his knee injury.
Arum will be left with no choice but to work on the the two remaining challengers, which include Matthysse and Crawford.
Matthysse is being promoted by GBP’s Osacar de la Hoya, who has just renewed his friendship with Arum, his former promoter. Making necessary arrangements for the fight wouldn’t be a problem for Arum and De la Hoya because of their prevailing cordial relationship.
De la Hoya has already talked to Arum about the proposed Pacquiao-Matthysse fight.
“There is a guy who manages Manny Pacquiao, and I am already in conversations with this gentleman to make a fight between Pacquiao and Matthysse,” said De La Hoya, in obvious reference to Top Rank’s Arum. “It could be a complicated fight, but that’s why Lucas is preparing so well. He has some great sparring partners to work with and he’ll be ready.”
Matthysse is facing Viktor Postol on Oct. 3. Postol is undefeated and there is a possibility that Matthysse will lose to Postol and if that happens, there is no point in pursuing the proposed Pacquiao-Matthysse fight.
The scenario would leave Arum with very little choice but to work on a Pacquiao-Crawford fight which is actually the easiest fight for Arum to arrange, being the promoter of both Pacquiao and Crawford.
