By Ronnie Nathanielsz

American Rick Stahaley, the trainer who guided Manny Pacquiao to his first WBC world flyweight title in December 1998 believes that Pacquiao will choose WBA/IBF light welterweight champion Lamont Peterson as his next opponent.

In an interview with BoxingScene.com/Manila Standard, Stahaley said “Peterson’s style is right for Manny and I think that Pacquiao needs a bit of an easy fight.”

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is scheduled to arrive in Manila along with Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz on Sunday to provide Pacquiao with four possible opponents – Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Timothy Bradley and Peterson who is trainer Freddie Roach’s apparent choice.

Stahaley said “of the four guys Peterson is probably the easiest opponent.”

He said “its very difficult what Manny has done the past couple of years where he fights a tough guy every fight. You could see it takes its toll (on Pacquiao) after a while.”

Stahaley said “they line up studs every fight. Its incredible. If you look at the history of boxing you get a few tough guys then put in a softer opponent. Manny goes out there and takes on the best every time and I don’t think Peterson is the best but it’s a good choice at this time.”

Well known Australian promoter and popular TV and Radio boxing show host Peter Maniatis disagreed with Stahaley and told us Pacquiao won’t choose Peterson because “its not a fight that they can promote as an opponent who has a chance of beating Manny Pacquiao.”

Maniatis said he believes Pacquiao will pick the reigning WBA light welterweight champion Bradley who is “undefeated, has a good physique, he looks the part and he’ll be a very marketable fighter. I believe they’ll pick Bradley because he is also with Bob Arum so its probably an easy fight for Arum to do.”

In downplaying the chances of Peterson being Pacquiao’s next opponent, Maniatis said Peterson “is not a big name. Let’s be honest. He beat Amir Khan in an upset but the referee helped him a lot in that fight taking a couple of points off. Peterson is not in the league of Pacquiao. It will be an easier fight for Pacquiao but its not going to draw the pay-per-view sales as he did with Marquez which had 1.4 million buys.”

Pacquiao reportedly wants a guaranteed purse of $28 million to fight Marquez for a fourth time and with Marquez himself certain to want more money, a fourth fight appears unlikely given the financial demands.

International referee Bruce McTavish said that a rematch with Cotto or a fourth fight with Marquez may be too dangerous for Pacquiao at this stage of his career and that’s why he (McTavish) would definitely pick Peterson if the choice was his. He said Peterson “who is really a newcomer would be a comfortable fight for Manny. Peterson doesn’t has power and at this stage of Manny’s career it should be an easy fight.”

Tags: Manny Pacquiao , Lamont Peterson