Is Garcia Pacman’s next foe?

WITH Juan Manuel Marquez making a ridiculous demand for a $20 million purse to face World Boxing Organization welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao in a fifth fight and light welterweight champion Ruslan Providnikov losing his title by a controversial split decision to Chris Algieri, the field of opponents for the Fighter of the Decade scheduled on Nov. 22 at the Cotai Arena in Macau has been severely restricted.

   However, Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz told the Manila Standard: “The Russian was not even being considered, We will decide sometime next month.”

Multiple sources have told the Manila Standard that Top Rank promotions, trainer Freddie Roach and Pacquiao himself are looking at other possible opponents. Luis Sandoval of Boxing Scene quoted Roach, who said that for Pacquiao’s next fight, “I’d like to fight Danny Garcia. I think that’d be a great fight for Pacquiao. I don’t know exactly what’s going to happen, but I think his next fight will be in China.”

Pacquiao could easily come down to 140 pounds to fight the undefeated Junior Welterweight champion Garcia, which would also provide an impetus to getting Top Rank promoter Bob Arum and Golden Promotions Oscar De La Hoya to work together once again.