Pacquiao still a sought-after fighter

MANILA, Philippines - As long as he beats Brandon Rios, and he wins impressively, Manny Pacquiao will have no problem at all looking for the next big fight.

Just days ago, World Boxing Organization president Paco Valcarcel mentioned the possibility of a fifth fight between Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquez.

The 40-year-old Mexican said he doesn’t want and doesn’t need to fight Pacquiao again. But whether he likes it or not he may end up with that.

If Marquez beats Tim Bradley on Oct. 12 at the Thomas and Mack Center, the Mexican becomes the WBO champion at 147 pounds.

And if Pacquiao gets past Rios in their own showdown on Nov. 24 in Macau, Valcarcel said the Filipino superstar will become the mandatory challenger to Marquez.

That’s option No. 1 for Pacquiao.

Yesterday, World Boxing Council president Jose Sulaiman also spoke about Pacquiao, who he said may end up facing the winner of the Sept. 14 clash between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Canelo Alvarez.

It will be the WBC super-welterweight crown being held by Alvarez who, like Mayweather, is undefeated inside the ring.

Mayweather is the WBC welterweight champion but has once held the WBA super-welterweight title.

“I sincerely hope that the winner (Mayweather-Alvarez) will meet Manny Pacquiao,” Sulaiman told Viva Sports TV.

“Manny is my idol, whatever happens I will always feel very, very proud of him as he was a WBC champion and I still believe that he is,” Sulaiman added.

The long-time WBC president did not mention if Pacquiao should move up to 154 pounds to face either Mayweather or Alvarez because the world champion in eight weight divisions said he would never fight heavier than 147 again.

Regardless of this, Pacquiao is almost guaranteed a bigger fight if he gets by Rios in the gambling city of Macau.

Marquez will fight him for the right price and Mayweather, if only he gets all he wants, may finally agree to lock horns with Pacquiao.

Despite two straight losses to Bradley and Marquez, the congressman from Sarangani remains a go-to guy.

All he needs to do is win his next fight.