Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather is the matchup boxing fans are buzzing about early in 2015, with the super fight that fans have wanted for many years seeming closer than ever.
Pacquiao has rarely stopped challenging Mayweather, while the latter appears more willing than ever to get in the ring with the popular Filipino champion.
Of course in boxing whether or not the fighters want to face each other often matters very little. Performance enhancing drug testing, purse squabbles, and promotional spats have all combined to stop this fight from happening over the years, and very well could strike it down again in 2015.
If that does happen, here are the top 3 opponents for Pacquiao's next fight.
Danny Garcia (29-0-0, 17 KO)
Garcia is the junior welterweight king, but 2014 was somewhat of a lost year for a man who should be one of boxing's most popular fighters. Prior to last year he was an underdog conqueror, having earned victories over popular favorites like Lucas Matthysse and Amir Khan.
He's shown power, counter-punching, and a lack of fear about facing top competition. Then he struggled to a controversial win in Puerto Rico over little-known Mauricio Herrera and then bludgeoned a comically overmatched opponent in Rod Salka. The latter fight left a bad taste in boxing fans' mouths and soured them on the 26-year-old champ.
He needs to fight better opponents in 2015 to maintain fan interest, but he's also cleaned out the 140-pound division except for Lamont Peterson. Pacquiao has been rumored to be considering a drop down in weight-perfect for Garcia, who is in need of a challenge.
Garcia has also discussed moving up to 147 pounds, which still works if he plans on taking on Pacquiao, whose title fight vs. Chris Algieri in November was contested at 144 pounds.
Terence Crawford (25-0-0, 17 KO)
Crawford had a breakout year in 2014, and could become a superstar if he moved up a division and fought Pacquiao at 140 pounds. Crawford has nothing left to prove at lightweight, and has talked about moving to the next weight class.
Facing Pacquiao in his first fight at a new division may not be the smartest course of action if he wants to preserve the zero in his loss column, but taking such a risk would be worth it financially. It would be Crawford's highest-ever payday, and a loss wouldn't dent his resume too much-Canelo Alvarez lost his zero to Floyd Mayweather Jr. and remains a superstar.
For Pacquiao, Crawford represents a steep challenge skill-wise, but is coming up whereas Pacquiao is moving down. Pacman's power figures to trump Crawford's since he won't be acclimated to the weight yet. The result would be a bout that is interesting tactically while offering the prospect of a knockout.
Adrien Broner (29-1-0, 22 KO)
Broner is brash and unafraid to call out big name fighters, but in his first test against championship opposition he barely got past Paulie Malignaggi for a welterweight title, then was battered by Marcos Maidana for his first loss.
Broner has rebounded from that loss with two victories over relatively unknown competition, and seems to be chomping at the bit to step back up in class. He appears focused on landing a rematch with Maidana, but has said he would "kick Pacquiao's a**" if they got in the ring.
Fans of Broner would love to see him prove it, while Broner haters would be sure to tune in to watch Pacquiao humble him. He's currently campaigning at junior welterweight, where Pacquiao supposedly wants to drop to. If not though, Broner's proven capable of winning a title at 147 pounds, so if the money is correct there's little stopping him from fighting there, or at a catch weight in between.
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