By Ryan Dunn: Since his negotiations with Floyd Mayweather Jr. (aka “the three ring circus with no ringleader and only two clowns”) began late in 2009, Pacquiao has been put under suspicion for alleged abuse of performance enhancing drugs. This suspicion was (quite suspiciously) created by none other than the man he was negotiating to fight against, but that’s a different story entirely. But the fall-out of the accusation remains, no matter what the motives, and people are now wondering about Manny, if he can fight while being randomly tested, and still keep his speed, power, and stamina.

Meanwhile, Antonio Margarito has been suspended from boxing in America ever since the closing bell rang on his TKO loss to Shane Mosley. Margarito was caught using an illegal plaster-like substance in his hand wraps. Mosley’s Trainer Naazim Richardson, who smelled something fishy, asked for the hands to be rewrapped. He described what happened next as two bricks falling to the ground when they took off the wraps. Not good.

Whatever suspicion some may have had about Margarito’s unbelievable strength against game opponents before that Mosley fight was answered loud and clear that night for many fans. Miguel Cotto and his late father also had to wonder whether those brick-fists were employed on the night Miguel was badly TKO’d by the same Margarito who was subsequently TKO’d by Mosley later that evening. The boxing world was shaken, and Margarito has since been dubbed as “Margacheato”, and for good reason.

Margarito’s application for a new boxing license was recently rejected by the Nevada State Athletic Commission. They want the boxer to get licensed in another state like California first, and want nothing to do with him at this time. That should have been reason enough for Top Rank Promotions to back off the idea of matching Pacquiao up against him, right?

But as the Mayweather/Pacquiao negotiations now begin to wane once more, two opponents are left on the table for Manny: Miguel Cotto and (drumroll) Antonio Margarito. Bob Arum is rolling the dice on how fans will react to putting a known cheater (Margarito) in against a suspected cheater (Pacquiao). I think he’d be rolling snake eyes.

There is nothing to gain here for Manny, except for some pocket-lining bills while Mayweather makes up his mind about this Fall or next Spring. A Pacquiao victory doesn’t mean much, since most (myself included) will assume that Margarito was knocking out the elites illegally, and that Margarito without his bricks is like Barry Bonds without his steroids, or Brett Favre without his cordozone. A Margarito victory might spell the end of the gravy train for Pacquiao and Top Rank, as well as a huge loss of equality for any Spring 2011 negotiations against Mayweather.

I don’t want to see a Margarito/Pacquiao fight, do you? I don’t support this type of cheating; turning your fists into potentially lethal weapons is unacceptable. I view of this type of cheating as far worse than the use of performance enhancing drugs, to be honest, and you should, too. With PED’s, there is no guarantee you will have a competitive edge, and probably a more provable chance that you will, in fact, lose that edge.

By treating Pacquiao’s fight this November as a bridge to a Mayweather 2011 fight, Arum is looking at his own stable of guys in order to grab more cash, control the terms, and expedite a deal. But what he’s forgetting is that the fans control the market. If he puts Pacquiao in against Margarito, Pacquiao is going to be the one who suffers. Mayweather casts too big of a shadow for Manny to take another payday without challenging his belt or fighting the best in a division. The weight climb is over, and now it’s time to step it up a notch.

A fight against Margarito would be a PR nightmare for Top Rank and MP Promotions, mark my words. And a rematch with Cotto might actually be less competitive than the first, since the contrast in speed might very well be amplified by Cotto’s heavier frame (assuming Manny doesn’t lose a step at this weight, either).

I’d like to see Arum put Pacquiao in against Bradley, Martinez, Berto or Khan. Give the fans something to cheer for. Give Pacquiao something to fight for. Boxing fans want to see great fights, Pacquiao fans want to see Pacquiao fight great. Can we please both factions, please?

P.S. I know some of you have suggested Paul Williams vs. Manny Pacquiao, but there are many things wrong about that fight, besides the height difference and lack of money draw. I know many of you like WIlliams a lot, but I have my doubts. I also think the guy needs to rematch Cintron or Martinez and win convincingly before chasing down guys like Mayweather and Pacquiao for the big paydays.