By Miguel Rivera

WBO junior welterweight champion Terence 'Bud' Crawford (27-0, 19KOs) is hoping to become the next opponent for eight division world champion Manny Pacquiao, who looks to retire following his next fight.

Crawford is one of the leading candidates in the running to face Pacquiao. The others are Amir Khan and WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley.

The unbeaten champion started the year off in April, when he knocked out Thomas Dulorme in six rounds. He was back in the ring in October, knocking out Pacquiao's former sparring partner Dierry Jean in ten.

Pacquiao fought once this year. He lost a twelve round decision to Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 2nd. During the fight he aggravated an existing right should injury. He had surgery a few days later and needed several months of rehab.

"The truth is, the only thing that I have left is to hope for the fight. I hope that they choose me so I can demonstrate if I am ready for a fight like that. I believe that I am, but I want to prove it. My career has been advancing, I'm where he I wanted to be and it is exciting that the people ask me about facing one of the great ones," Crawford told ESPN Deportes.

"We come already arrived at the ten best pound-for-pound. The people have all been a part of all this. They motivate me and I have to keep on working to get to a big fight. Pacquiao is one of these fights. We are going to see he picks us. We have already studied Pacquiao and I believe that we [are capable of beating him]."