One of the most anticipated announcements in the boxing scene is who Filipino boxing champ Manny Pacquiao will face next in the ring. But the name that is loudly circulating in the industry and on the Internet is American undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. who has been avoiding a fight with the Filipino boxer for years.

But Breathe Cast reports that boxing fans will have to wait for a bit more before Mayweather and Pacquiao clash in the ring. Top Rank promoter Bob Arum claimed that the fight is likely to happen in 2016 but there are still no settled agreements between the two.

Arum told Reuters in an interview that the fight will certainly happen and that they are prepared to sit down with Mayweather and his team to work out the terms of the fight.

"If you look at it from Mayweather's standpoint, he has this unbelievable deal with Showtime (satellite television network), paying him all this money... so he would probably figure, 'I have three more fights under the Showtime contract,'" Arum told added.

The Top Rank promoter also noted that Pacquiao, despite his busy schedule as a politician and businessman, is ready for his October fight. Arum told Reuters that the fight can happen either in Macau or the Middle East.

Aside from Mayweather, WBO Jr. Welterweight champ Ruslan Provodnikov may also be the next contender for Pacquiao, Fight Saga reported.

It noted that the Russian fighter's com forward style, durability and punching power make him an ideal opponent for Pacquiao. 

Moreover, Pacquiao's possible win against Ruslan would definitely bring him closer to a Mayweather fight in the next years.

But if Mayweather's camp fails to come to terms with Team Pacquiao, there are still a few more fighters ready to face the Filipino champ. And as listed by Fight Saga, they are Christopher Algieri from Mexico, Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto, Tim Bradley, Canelo Alvarez, Kell Brook and even Juan Manuel Marquez who knocked Pacquiao unconscious for a few seconds on their fourth clash in Las Vegas.

Depending on Bob Arum and the outcome of the promoter's negotiations, Pacquiao's next opponent will surely give the Filipino fighter a run for his title and reputation as a pound for pound champ. Pacquiao needs to prove his skills on the ring once more after several analysts and boxing fans notice that he now lacks the speed he had a few years back.