On Saturday, April 9, Manny Pacquiao will fight for the final time before retiring from boxing to focus on his political career in the Philippines.
The top candidates to fight the former eight-division world champion include WBO super lightweight champion Terence Crawford (27-0, 19 KO’s) and WBC Silver welterweight champion Amir Khan (31-3, 19 KO’s).
Trainer Robert Garcia concurs with Top Rank head Bob Arum that Crawford is the quintessential opponent for Pacquiao.
However, while some have shown genuine concern for the Filipino superstar and whether he still has the vitality to engage in another 12-round war, Garcia maintained that it is Crawford who should be worried about Pacquiao.
Although Pacquiao has seen defeat in three of his last six fights, Garcia expects Pacquiao to have enough in the tank to make it a tough evening for Crawford.
“He’s [Crawford] the only one that will make sense [for Pacquiao] because even Brandon [Rios] got Pacquiao after he fought [Mike] Alvarado,” Garcia told ESNews. “Chris Algieri got Pacquiao after he fought [Ruslan] Provodnikov.
“A lot of people thought Provodnikov won, so that’s a fight that makes the most sense for Pacquiao. If you’re talking about Top Rank fighters, then Crawford.
“I still think Pacquiao is too dangerous. People might think I’m wrong, but I think Pacquiao is a little too dangerous and might still be a big risk for Crawford.”
This comes as Matchroom Sport promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports that Khan is wasting his time trying to land a fight with Pacquiao.
“I don’t believe Pacquiao will get in the ring because there’s little reward for him,” Hearn said. “Khan’s career has stalled already. He’s been waiting for the Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight, and that hasn’t happened and now he’s waiting on Pacquiao, and I don’t believe that will happen either.”
Khan’s career hiatus is, for the most part, self-engendered for reasons Hearn listed. Based on that rationale, Pacquiao is more likely to choose Crawford, albeit he is a higher risk.
Although Crawford has been whacking guys as of late, he displayed some defensive flaws against Dierry Jean in what was his first defence of his WBO strap in October.
Jean was able to shock Crawford multiple times in the bout with snappy right hands, though, he landed very few, they had an impact.
Those little blemishes in Crawford’s defense could prevail Pacquiao to victory, but that can commensurately be said about Pacquiao’s defense, as he was out cold from a brutal Juan Manuel Marquez counter right hand in 2012.
While Pacquiao is proclaimed for the power behind his devastating straight left hand, he has also managed to drop a handful of fighters with his right hand, like Ricky Hatton, Miguel Cotto, and Chris Algieri.
Both fights are low reward just based on the fact that Pacquiao has done everything in boxing. He is the only eight-division world champion in the sport’s history, and he has beaten some potential first-ballot Hall of Famers in Marco Antonio Barrera, Erik Morales, and Juan Manuel Marquez.
The only thing Pacquiao has not done is give Floyd Mayweather Jr. his first loss and the likelihood of a rematch is slim to none.
And as Arum told ESPN’s Dan Rafael yesterday, a contract will not be sent out until Pacman has made his selection, so we shall wait.
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