By Steve Kim

So what comes next for Manny Pacquiao if he should successfully defend his WBO welterweight title this weekend in Australia against his mandatory challenger, Jeff Horn (16-0-1, 11 KOs)?

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum - who arrived in Australia this past weekend - told BoxingScene.com - "Look, after the fight - assuming he wins - we're going to sit with Freddie (Roach) and Justin (Fortune) and figure out who we can put him with next. Can we put him in with an elite fighter next? I don't know.

"I don't know what the answer is. To say put him in with (Errol) Spence or a (Terence) Crawford now, without seeing him fight Jeff Horn, that does a disservice to Manny."

It's not clear if the 38-year old Pacquiao (59-6-2, 38 KO's) will fight on past 2017.

"I couldn't say, I really couldn't say," admitted Arum. "One day it's one thing and Manny will really know quicker than anybody else when it's time to hang up the gloves."

Pacquiao fought twice in 2016. He announced his retirement following last April's victory over Timothy Bradley in their trilogy bout. The retirement was motivated by Pacquiao's desire to expand his growing political career in the Philippines. He was elected to a senatorial position last May.

The retirement was short-lived. Pacquiao came back a few months, in November, to win a twelve round decision over Jessie Vargas to capture the WBO world title.

Earlier this year, Pacquiao announced that he was defending his title against former Wild Card stablemate Amir Khan on an April date in the UAE. The deal was dead in the water about two weeks later, when the  investors who were pursuing the event were unable to provide any proof of the promised $38 million that was necessary to stage the fight.

Following the Khan fallout, a deal was finalized with Horn for the July title defense, which takes place this coming Saturday night [Sunday in Australia] at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane.

Steve Kim is the news editor for BoxingScene.com.