Manny Pacquiao next fight: Pacman negotiating 2016 rematch with Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

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Oct 28, 2015 06:00 AM EDT

We can't tell for sure whether Manny Pacquiao's next opponent would be the flamboyant and undefeated American boxer, Floyd Mayweather Jr. But one thing that's getting more and more apparent is that his next opponent could, most likely, be his last.

"I don't know yet who [will be] my opponent next, but we're still negotiating right now about the rematch with Floyd Mayweather. Hoping for that," said Manny Pacquiao in a question-and-answer video with his fans on Facebook, the Inquirer Sports reported.

And for those who feel that a rematch between the top two most prized fighters, both literal and figurative sense, of their generation is the best available option for Pacquiao, the lines, at least, are open for now. If anything concrete would pan out, the fans should know better by now that negotiations between the two camps have always been fickle. Judging from past dialogues, the two sides were never really cordial with each other, to begin with.

Top Rank Promotion's top brass, Bob Arum, told ESPN that Pacquiao is bent on concentrating in local politics should he win the upcoming 2016 senatorial polls in the Philippines where 12 senate seats are up for grabs.

"I'm telling you what he told me last week at dinner in New York," Arum said. "We talked very seriously and he said, 'Bob, hopefully, by the middle of May I will have been elected senator in the Philippines and at that point I cannot engage in boxing because I need to focus on the senate and I have to be in attendance. Manny told me this fight on April 9 will be his last fight."

The eight-division world champion is currently serving as a congressman in Sarangani province, from the southern region of the Philippines. And, that is just one of the many duties Pacquiao has on his plate. He also plays professional hoops in the local league and has to attend to a lot of functions, events, and not to mention, his business ventures.

Some of the list of fighters Pacquiao could be up against with on the ring come April include junior welterweight champ Terence Crawford, British fighter Amir Khan, Danny Garcia (as per Roach's wish), and two fighters, both of whom, Manny has already fought more than once--- Timothy Bradley and Mexican nemesis  Juan Manuel Marquez.

Nothing is cast in stone for the meantime, but Arum, definitely, has to deliver in terms of choosing the right opponent for Pacquiao's last fight. The impending retirement should put added pressure on the veteran promoter, BoxingNews24 noted.

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