Canelo an option for Manny

LOS ANGELES – If ever Manny Pacquiao un-retires, WBC middleweight champion Saul (Canelo) Alvarez of Mexico could be a future opponent and the Filipino’s adviser Michael Koncz said recently a fight between the two superstars has the potential of registering at least three million pay-per-view buys.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum broached the idea of matching Pacquiao and Alvarez even before the rubber match where the Filipino floored Timothy Bradley twice enroute to scoring a convincing win on points in Las Vegas last April 9. Arum said Alvarez’s middleweight crown could be at stake, possibly at a catchweight limit of 155 pounds. It would give Pacquiao an opportunity to win a world title in a ninth division.

Former WBC/IBF lightflyweight and WBO flyweight champion Brian Viloria called a duel between Pacquiao and Alvarez an “intriguing” bout. “It’ll be a blockbuster, for sure, because Canelo has a large Hispanic following and we know Manny’s popularity,” he said yesterday. “I think Manny can take Alvarez. He’s not intimidated by bigger guys. In fact, he might like fighting bigger guys more than guys his size. Manny’s too fast for Alvarez. He’ll fight Alvarez like he fought Oscar (de la Hoya) and (Antonio) Margarito who were bigger than him. But will Manny fight again? That’s the question.”

In 2008, Pacquiao weighed in at 142 pounds and De la Hoya, 145 for their fight in Las Vegas. De la Hoya surrendered on his stool at the end of the eighth round. In 2010, Pacquiao scaled 144 1/2 pounds and Margarito 150 but the weight disparity made no difference. Pacquiao won a unanimous decision in a one-sided contest that should’ve been stopped by referee Laurence Cole three rounds before the final bell. At least twice Pacquiao beckoned Cole to step in but the referee was insensitive to the punishment. Margarito wound up with a fractured orbital bone that required surgery to reconstruct his right eye socket.

Pacquiao’s contract with Top Rank doesn’t expire until next year so it’s possible he could un-retire and fight twice more. Arum said he could negotiate a deal with Alvarez’s promoter

De la Hoya. “Manny’s always fought bigger guys,” said Arum. “If Manny wants to fight him, he’s got to bite the bullet and fight the heavier guy. Oscar promotes Canelo and Oscar knows when Manny fights a bigger guy how dangerous Manny is because Oscar knows from experience what happened to him when he fought Manny.”

Alvarez, 25, has never scaled heavier than 155 pounds even if the middleweight limit is 160. He’s defending the WBC crown against Amir Khan at the brand-new T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on May 7 at a catchweight limit of 155. Since turning pro in 2005, he has figured in 48 fights. Pacquiao, 37, made his pro debut in 1995 and has racked up 66 fights.Alvarez’ record is 46-1-1, with 32 KOs while Pacquiao’s mark is 58-6-2, with 37 KOs.

In terms of physique, Margarito cuts a more imposing figure than Alvarez. Margarito is 5-11 with a 73-inch wingspan while Alvarez is 5-9 with a 70 1/2 inch reach. Pacquiao is 5-5 1/2 with a 67-inch wingspan.

Margarito hasn’t been the same since losing to Pacquiao. He came back to lose to Miguel Cotto on a ninth round stoppage in 2011 then took a five-year layoff and beat Jorge Paez Jr. on points last month. Margarito was described as “war-torn” and “beyond repair” by Boxing News of London in surviving a knockdown to edge Paez.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said he’d like WBO superlightweight titlist Terence Crawford as a future opponent. But the decision is Pacquiao’s to make, whether he’ll fight again and whom to face. “It’s up to Manny,” said Roach. “His legs are good. His work ethic is great. He hasn’t really shown signs of wear and tear.”

Viloria admitted he was surprised at how Pacquiao dismantled Bradley in their recent fight. “I thought Manny looked great,” he said. “There was no sign of any shoulder problem. The handspeed, footwork and power showed up. That guy Bradley’s tough, give credit to him for lasting 12 rounds with Manny. If Manny fought (Floyd) Mayweather instead of Bradley that night, I think he’d have a good chance of winning. I’d be interested to find out how Mayweather does against a Manny who’s 100 percent. I think a lot of fans would be interested, too.”

Viloria said Pacquiao’s strength and conditioning coach Justin Fortune doesn’t think the Filipino icon will stay retired. “I asked Justin if that was Manny’s last fight,” said Viloria. “I don’t think Mayweather will stay retired either. When you’re a fighter, it’s hard to walk away particularly if there’s a lot of money on the table for you to keep fighting. It’s too much money to turn down.”