By Mark Vester
During a recent interview with ABS-CBN, Manny Pacquiao was asked questions regaring several potential opponents. Prior to the questions on opponents, Pacquiao made it clear that he is not going to retire and plans to fight again by the month of May. He was also asked the question of the hour, whether or not he would consider fighting WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez.
Pacquiao said he would consider fighting Martinez, but the fight would have to take place below 150-pounds. That's not going to happen. Martinez told BoxingScene.com that he won't drop "below 155-pounds for anyone." The Argentine champion has grown into a middleweight and the lowest he can go, without killing himself, is 155. Martinez is honest with himself. He recently told BoxingScene that a Pacquiao fight won't happen because Manny is "too small."
Shane Mosley, who is regarded as the frontrunner to fight Pacquiao, was given the green light by the Filipino champion. He said a Mosley clash is fine because "he's a good fighter and a champion."
Floyd Mayweather Jr. was also given a positive nod. Pacquiao said - "no problem. That would be a good fight."
In a surprising move, Pacquiao ruled out a third meeting with Juan Manuel Marquez. He told the paper - "because no one would watch it." At the moment, Marquez is fighting two weight divisions below Pacquiao. The Filipino champ is worried that because of the size difference, the fans won't take the fight seriously and the pay-per-view numbers would be low.
Pacquiao's answers on potential opponents would show that he's siding with promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, and business adviser Michael Koncz. Both Arum and Koncz are very much in favor of a Pacquiao-Mosley clash. On the other hand, Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach, and his conditioning coach Alex Ariza, view Mosley as a very easy fight that nobody would watch. Roach and Arize are pushing for a third meeting between Pacquiao and Marquez.
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