By Chris Williams: Manny Pacquiao still plans on fighting on December 8th, according to his close friend Wakee Salud, but he’s going to likely reveal who his next opponent will be this week. It’s one of two less than interesting options of a rematch against either Tim Bradley or Juan Manuel Marquez.

Pacquiao has already fought Marquez three times, but since the fight makes a lot of money each time they go it, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum likes the idea of continuing the fights. Also there’s a smaller chance of Pacquiao fighting Tim Bradley to try and avenge the loss Pacquiao suffered against him last June. Most people don’t see that as a viable option for Pacquiao because their fight didn’t bring in the usual huge PPV numbers that his recent fights have had. In addition to that, Bradley was able to neutralize Pacquiao’s offense by using movement, and he was able to do this even with two bad legs.

In a rematch, Bradley would likely be much faster and harder for the aging Pacquiao to catch up to with his shots. This could end up in another loss for Pacquiao, and I don’t think Arum wants to risk seeing his gravy train fighter’s career ended prematurely. With a lot of money still to be made on Pacquiao fights, Arum will probably convince him to fight Marquez instead. We’ll then likely see Marquez get another controversial loss in a fight where he appears to win. It’s all so predictable.

Pacquiao supposedly wants to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. next year. This is why it’s so important for him to win his next fight in December and look good in doing so. However, I don’t see a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight ever getting made, so you can expect Pacquiao to fight either Bradley or Marquez in early 2013. It won’t Mayweather, believe me. Win or loss in their December fight, Pacquiao and Arum will likely still ask for a 50-50 money deal with Mayweather and that alone will keep the fight from getting made.