By Rick Reeno

Multiple sources who are close to the negotiations have advised BoxingScene.com that undefeated WBA junior middleweight champion Yuri Foreman is still a strong candidate to replace Floyd Mayweather Jr. as the opponent for Manny Pacquiao on March 13 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Top Rank represents both fighters. They are talking with Foreman's team about the possibility of fighting Pacquiao.

The other frontrunner to replace Mayweather is former junior welterweight champion Paulie Malignaggi. According to one source, there is a chance that Pacquiao's date may get switched over to March 20 for scheduling reasons.