Manny Pacquiao Still Without Foe After ‘Futile’ Meeting With Bob Arum

Manny Pacquiao has yet to unveil the identity of his next opponent up to this point as the latest meeting between Pacman's adviser Michael Koncz and Top Rank's Bob Arum ended in futility, multiple sources reported on Sunday.

Pacquiao, who is scheduled to return in the ring in April, may have to wait a little longer before Koncz and Arum iron out the details of his next fight.

In a recent interview with Boxing Scene/Manila Standards, Koncz confirmed that he already met with the Top Rank head honcho, though their talk did not produce the name of Pacman's next foe.

"I met at Arum's house this afternoon but nothing is final as Manny and I are looking at all our options," Koncz said during the interview.

With Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Juan Manuel Marquez out of the picture, boxing's rising star Ruslan Provodnikov and WBO Welterweight champ Timothy Bradley emerged as the frontrunners for the Pacquiao fight.

"Arum earlier told us the two possible opponents from which they are set to choose are WBO welterweight champion Timothy "Desert Storm" Bradley who won a highly controversial twelve round split decision over Pacquiao in June 2012 and Pacquiao's former sparring partner, WBO light welterweight champion Russian Ruslan Provodnikov who is coming off an impressive although losing effort against Bradley in a clash that was considered as "Fight of the Year," via Boxing Scene.

Brawler or Boxer - Who's Gonna Be?

Pacquiao is coming off a 12-round unanimous decision win over Californian brawler Brandon Rios in November in Venetian Macao in Macau, China. Though it's pretty much a lopsided fight, the victory against Rios launched back Pacquiao to relevancy after suffering a 12-round split decision loss to Bradley and a sixth-round TKO defeat to Marquez in 2012.

With vengeance in his mind, Pacquiao expressed his desire to fight Marquez for a fifth time, but the Mexican stressed that he has no intention of fighting his arch nemesis ever again. Still, Pacquiao can exact his revenge against Bradley, who won his slugfest against Dinamita via split decision on October 12.

On other hand, Provodnikov presents a different challenge. Bradley might be a better all-around fighter, but Provodnikov has become perhaps the hottest name in Arum's stable following his all-out war against him and demolition of Mike Alvarado.

"He [Arum] said while Bradley presents an opportunity for Pacquiao to avenge his widely criticized split decision loss in June 2012 Provodnikov could be an attraction after his last explosive showing against Bradley," via Boxing Scene.