Manny’s next foe? Crawford, Lomachenko in Arum’s radar
LOS ANGELES – While Manny Pacquiao’s future in the boxing ring is still up in the air, Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum already mentioned several fighters who could get a shot at the Filipino icon.
Unified WBC and WBO super lightweight champion and rising star Terence Crawford heads the list of possible Pacquiao foes. The undefeated Crawford (29-0, with 20 KOs) can further boost his case if he wins his scheduled fight against John Molina Jr.
“Off the cuff, without really exploring all options – I would say Terence Crawford [ can be Pacquiao’s next opponent], who has a tough fight coming up on December 10th,” Arum told reporters after Pacquiao routed Jessie Vargas in Las Vegas last Saturday (Sunday in Manila).
Many boxing observers are receptive to a showdown between Pacquiao and Crawford, whom some believe is even more deserving of a crack at Pacquiao than Vargas.
Arum also floated the name of Ukrainian star and WBO super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko, a legendary Olympian and another rising Top Rank fighter.
Lomachenko, too, has an upcoming assignment against Nicholas Walters, who shot to fame after knocking out Nonito Donaire in 2014.
Welterweight titlists Danny Garcia ( WBC) and Keith Thurman (WBA) likewise are also on Arum’s radar for Pacquiao.
“All of those guys would be in the mix,” the veteran promoter added.
Those fights, hover, are financially no match for another fight between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., whose ringside appearance in the Vargas bout has fueled talks that he is keen on a rematch with Pacquiao.
Pacquiao, for his part, has no problem facing Crawford, Mayweather or any other guy pitted against him.
“If the fans want it (then I’m for it). Huwag lang sabay,” Pacquiao joked in his Las Vegas suite the day after his victory over Vargas. – Dino Maragay/Philstar.com