Pacquiao vs Bradley (Photo : JOHN GURZINSKI/AFP/Getty Images)
Manny Pacquiao is set to announce his final opponent this week, according to Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum and reports are indicating that the Filipino boxing icon would pick Timothy Bradley.
Arum said that Pacquiao will reveal his final opponent for his farewell fight during Top Rank's truTV-televised card on Friday night in Puerto, Rico, according to Dan Rafael of ESPN.
"That's what we are going to do," Arum said.
Pacquiao has been choosing between three possible foes, including Amir Khan, Terence Crawford, and Bradley.
Rafael noted that it is likely that Pacquiao would opt for a trilogy with Bradley as the latter is set to appear at ringside to serve as a commentator for truTV.
Rafael wrote: "Would Top Rank really do the announcement on Bradley's broadcast and not announce him as the foe? That would be awfully cold and disrespectful to Bradley, who already has faced Pacquiao twice in lackluster bouts, including getting a hugely controversial split decision win in their first meeting."
Bradley, who is also promoted by Top Rank, is coming off a remarkable win last month after sending Brandon Rios to retirement in a ninth-round stoppage win. The WBO welterweight champion has renewed his career with new trainer Teddy Atlas in his corner.
According to Bradley's wife and manager Monica, there is no completed deal yet to fight Pacquiao for the third time.
However, LA Times reported that Monica admitted she has developed a good relationship with Top Rank president Todd duBoef, suggesting that Pacquiao could actually pick Bradley for the Filipino's Apr. 9 bout.
While Bradley-Pacquiao could give boxing fans a decent fight than the disappointment of Mayweather-Pacquiao bout in May, Chris Williams of Boxing News 24 believes this card would be the "equivalent" of Floyd Mayweather Jr's farewell fight against Andre Berto.
Williams argued that it is a fight that Pacquiao would have a great shot of winning, "but it also would be a fight that not too many boxing fans will want to pay to see on HBO PPV."
This may be true as fans are expecting the former eight-division titlist to end his boxing career against a more thrilling opponent.
Moreover, the boxing world has seen so much of a battle between Pacquiao and Bradley, with both fighters already spent time in the boxing ring for two occasions.
If Pacquiao would settle for a fight with Bradley, the Filipino boxer may not be considering the possible PPV numbers, or he may just be convinced that a third installment with the American fighter would be more exciting than their fight in 2012 and 2014.
