Underdog Boxing: Pacquiao’s final six opponents, if it were up to me

A few weeks ago, Bob Arum said that Manny Pacquiao will fight six more times after his bout with Shane Mosley. Given that forecast, I’d like to make my own list of six fighters whom I want Pacquiao to face before he calls it a career. My choices will not be according to which fighters may be the most feasible for Pacquiao, or who could help him make the most money. I’m choosing the six fighters who could have the most positive impact on Pacquiao’s legacy. 1. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. — This one is a no-brainer. Every boxing fan in the world wants this to happen. The sooner it happens, the better it will be for boxing. We all hope 2011 will finally be the year when the two best pound-for-pound fighters slug it out in the ring. 2. Andre Berto — He is the best welterweight outside of Pacquiao and Mayweather, so I think he deserves a shot at Pacquiao. Berto has knockout power, as he proved in his last win. A string of big wins from Berto and he’ll be a worthy adversary for Pacquiao. 3. Juan Manuel Marquez — This fight will only be competitive if it is held at 140 pounds. Anything north of that and we’ll most likely see a beating and not a competition. However, the Marquez-Pacquiao saga needs a third fight. The first two fights were painfully close, and the boxing world needs a definitive win from either boxer to close one of the best rivalries of our generation. 4. The winner of Devon Alexander vs. Timothy Bradley – Pacquiao hasn’t fought anyone like Alexander or Bradley. These two guys are both in their physical prime, one of them will be undefeated after they fight, and they present a unique challenge for Pacquiao because both are smart fighters. 5. Miguel Cotto at 154 — I know, I know. Pacquiao has already beaten him, decisively at that. But hear me out. Pacquiao-Cotto was fought at a catchweight of 145 pounds, and since Pacquiao’s second fight against Marquez, Pacquiao only lost clearly in a single round in his next six fights. This was the first round against Cotto, when the Puerto Rican cleverly used his jab to dictate the tempo. Cotto is scheduled to face Ricardo Mayorga If he wins, he will be lined up for fights against Antonio Margarito and Julio Caesar Chaver Jr. If Cotto wins all of these fights, a Cotto-Pacquiao showdown at 154 will definitely be worth watching. 6. Saul Alvarez — This is by far the best send-off fight for Pacquio. Saul Alvarez has just turned 20, but he’s already the talk of the town in Mexico. Pacquiao made a name for himself by defeating the best fighters that Mexico had to offer, and it is just right that he allows a Mexican youngster to get a crack at him. The red-haired boxer is Mexico’s next big thing, and a win over him will definitely cement Pacquiao’s legacy as one of the finest fighters to ever put on a pair of gloves. - KY, OMG, RCJ, GMANews.TV