Top Rank Promotions chief Bob Arum insisted that Juan Manuel Marquez is still on top of the list of Manny Pacquiao's possible opponent in his next fight, but the influential promoter said that they are also willing to go into a different direction.
In an interview with World Boxing News, Arum revealed that he is planning to meet with Marquez on Thursday in New York to gauge his interest in fighting Pacquiao for the fifth time.
Marquez, who is coming off a sensational win over Mike Alvarado last month, has been playing coy on a fifth fight with his Filipino nemesis, whom he knocked out cold during their fourth showdown in December 2012.
And if Marquez continues to show no interest in another rematch with Pacquiao, Arum said that he will now be forced to look for other possible opponent for Pacquiao, who is scheduled to return to action on November 22, possibly in Macau.
"Manny has a number of options for fighting in November, on the 22nd and we will announce shortly who he is going to be fighting," Arum said. "Whether it's Marquez or somebody else will become clear in the next couple of weeks."
Arum added that Pacquiao's former sparring partner, Ruslan Provodnikov, is an intriguing prospect along with Argentine welterweight Carlos Abregu.
"There are plenty of names," Arum said. "Ruslan Provodnikov is on the list. Carlos Abregu, the Argentinian welterweight is on the list. Those are two of the principal names."
Arum also revealed that fighters from Golden Boy Promotions will also be considered, which means that the famed promoter is indeed serious in ending his feud with Oscar De La Hoya's promotional company.
The 82-year-old promoter told BoxingScene that Danny Garcia will be strongly considered for Pacquiao's next fight if the reigning WBA and WBC light welterweight champion is under Golden Boy Promotions, and not Al Haymon, who is linked to Floyd Mayweather Jr.
"You understand I'm a promoter, but also a lawyer. So I don't go by rumors or anything. If Garcia is with Golden Boy and he is free to fight Manny Pacquiao, he would be moving to the top of the list," Arum said.
Saul Canelo Alvarez, who is also a Golden Boy fighter, was previously mentioned in talks about Pacquiao's next opponent, but the 23-year-old boxing star is scheduled to fight Erislandy Lara on July 12, and a November return fight will be too early for the former light middleweight champion.
