Many lined up for Manny

MANILA, Philippines - For Bob Arum, it’s anybody but Floyd Mayweather Jr. as Manny Pacquiao’s next opponent.

Or so it seems.

“I’m not thrilled about Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather because there are other fighters who draw a lot better than Mayweather,” Arum told boxingscene.com.

Trainer Freddie Roach is on the same page with Arum, saying recently that a fight with Mayweather could be a “boring fight” and that Pacquiao may look bad even if he wins.

And yesterday, in Tijuana, Mexico, the legendary chief of Top Rank Promotions said he’d rather see Pacquiao, the new face of boxing, have Julio Cesar Chaves Jr.

To many, it may not be the best fight there is for Pacquiao who may be too short or too small for Chavez Jr. who just won his junior middleweight match against Luciano Cuello.

Pacquiao was at his heaviest when he demolished Oscar dela Hoya in their welterweight contest last December, and will give up a lot on size against the son of the great Chavez Sr.

“Even though the Mexican prospect has plenty of flaws,” wrote Mark Vester.

“There is John Duddy (a 26-0 middleweight from the UK), there is Oscar dela Hoya if he continues to fight. And there is third one which is a little different because of the size difference,” said Arum.

“But it would be the biggest fight of the year, with Julio Cesar Chavez vs Manny Pacquiao, Mexico vs the Philippines,” Arum went on.

A Pacquiao-Chavez fight, anywhere and at any weight, may be too hard to sell as the biggest fight of the year, especially if Mayweather indeed comes out of retirement.

The undefeated former pound-for-pound champion is rumored to be back in the gym and ready to climb the ring on July 11. But everything remains unconfirmed.

A Mayweather fight with Ricky Hatton or Juan Manuel Marquez or Shane Mosley can always be bigger than Pacquiao facing Chaves but not if Pacquiao takes on Miguel Cotto.

Is Arum scared of Mayweather Jr.?

“Arum knows that Floyd’s speed and defense would be difficult for the improved, but unbalanced and aggressive Pacquiao. A loss to Mayweather would dull Manny’s luster and earning power at the height of his drawing power; those are the reasons Arum wants to keep his fighter clear of Floyd,” wrote Ricardo Lois.

“I ask you this, if Manny beats Ricky Hatton this May, what fight would be bigger for Manny than a clash with Mayweather?

“A June or September return of Mayweather puts Arum in a difficult position; give Manny the fight him and the fans want, or protect his valuable, but beatable commodity,” the LA Boxing Examiner said.