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By: Corey Cunningham
As we wait for the Errol Spence vs Shawn Porter match-up, there’s a larger question looming on the horizon. What will
Pacquiao do next? Even with the magnitude of the Spence vs Porter unification, the winner gets to wait in the
Congressman’s crowded lobby. Until Pacquiao makes a decision, there’s not going to be any movement in the welterweight
division.
Manny Pacquiao assumed total control of the welterweight division with his victory over Keith Thurman for his WBA
welterweight title. Combined with his box office success, he’s now the kingpin. No top welterweight will announce a move
until Pacquiao decides who gets to share a ring with him next. As it happens, there are several fighters who are legitimate
options.
Errol Spence, IBF Welterweight Champion
Errol Spence Jr will clash with WBC champion Shawn “Showtime” Porter on September 28. If Spence can successfully unify
his title, he becomes the fan favorite for a mega showdown. The Philippine icon also entered the ring following Spence’s
victory over Mikey Garcia and said he’d be willing to fight him.
Danny Garcia
The former WBC welterweight champion has been considered as a potential Manny Pacquiao opponent for several years.
However, the match-up has never materialized. Garcia was a unified champion at junior welterweight, and was very
competitive with both Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman. He looks to have finally acclimated to the division, and has added
some new wrinkles to his game. Garcia brings a solid fan base to the table, and with Pacquiao nearing retirement, he may
want the guaranteed commercial success.
Mikey Garcia
As a multi-division world champion and former pound-for-pound star, he definitely has the pedigree. The downside is that
he’s coming off of a lopsided loss to Errol Spence and it wouldn’t be a good look for the Congressman with unification bouts
on the table. Mikey Garcia has a lucrative offer from DAZN, and has made it clear that he won’t make any moves until
Pacquiao announces his plans.
Terence Crawford
As a former undisputed champion and three division world champion, if Pacquiao were to get a win here, he’d wrestle the
mantle of “Best Fighter of the Era” from Floyd Mayweather, and put the finishing touch on an already sterling resume.
Crawford has also been very vocal in calling out the eight-division world champion, and has a contingent of fans that believe
Pacquiao actually fears him.
Shawn Porter
Point blank, if the WBC champion can pull off the upset and unify his title, he’s on the list. Pacquiao and Porter share some
history, as “Showtime” helped Manny Pacquiao, in sparring, get ready for his epic victory over Miguel Cotto. As previously
mentioned in the cases of Crawford and Spence, this would get us a step closer to an undisputed welterweight champion.
Its obvious that even while on the back nine of his illustrious career, Manny Pacquiao is the straw that stirs the drink in the
welterweight division. On September 29, regardless what happens in the Spence vs Porter showdown, all eyes will be on
Manny Pacquiao.
As we wait for the Errol Spence vs Shawn Porter match-up, there’s a larger question looming on the horizon. What will
Pacquiao do next? Even with the magnitude of the Spence vs Porter unification, the winner gets to wait in the
Congressman’s crowded lobby. Until Pacquiao makes a decision, there’s not going to be any movement in the welterweight
division.
Manny Pacquiao assumed total control of the welterweight division with his victory over Keith Thurman for his WBA
welterweight title. Combined with his box office success, he’s now the kingpin. No top welterweight will announce a move
until Pacquiao decides who gets to share a ring with him next. As it happens, there are several fighters who are legitimate
options.
Errol Spence, IBF Welterweight Champion
Errol Spence Jr will clash with WBC champion Shawn “Showtime” Porter on September 28. If Spence can successfully unify
his title, he becomes the fan favorite for a mega showdown. The Philippine icon also entered the ring following Spence’s
victory over Mikey Garcia and said he’d be willing to fight him.
Danny Garcia
The former WBC welterweight champion has been considered as a potential Manny Pacquiao opponent for several years.
However, the match-up has never materialized. Garcia was a unified champion at junior welterweight, and was very
competitive with both Shawn Porter and Keith Thurman. He looks to have finally acclimated to the division, and has added
some new wrinkles to his game. Garcia brings a solid fan base to the table, and with Pacquiao nearing retirement, he may
want the guaranteed commercial success.
Mikey Garcia
As a multi-division world champion and former pound-for-pound star, he definitely has the pedigree. The downside is that
he’s coming off of a lopsided loss to Errol Spence and it wouldn’t be a good look for the Congressman with unification bouts
on the table. Mikey Garcia has a lucrative offer from DAZN, and has made it clear that he won’t make any moves until
Pacquiao announces his plans.
Terence Crawford
As a former undisputed champion and three division world champion, if Pacquiao were to get a win here, he’d wrestle the
mantle of “Best Fighter of the Era” from Floyd Mayweather, and put the finishing touch on an already sterling resume.
Crawford has also been very vocal in calling out the eight-division world champion, and has a contingent of fans that believe
Pacquiao actually fears him.
Shawn Porter
Point blank, if the WBC champion can pull off the upset and unify his title, he’s on the list. Pacquiao and Porter share some
history, as “Showtime” helped Manny Pacquiao, in sparring, get ready for his epic victory over Miguel Cotto. As previously
mentioned in the cases of Crawford and Spence, this would get us a step closer to an undisputed welterweight champion.
Its obvious that even while on the back nine of his illustrious career, Manny Pacquiao is the straw that stirs the drink in the
welterweight division. On September 29, regardless what happens in the Spence vs Porter showdown, all eyes will be on
Manny Pacquiao.
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