By Pawel Pronishev

Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum informed the Manila Bulletin that he plans to present three possible options to Manny Pacquiao for a posssible defense of the WBO welterweight title in either April or May. Arum plans to meet with Pacquiao in the first week of January in Los Angeles. The short list, according to Arum, are Juan Manuel Marquez (53-6-1, 39KOs), unbeaten WBO 140-pound champion Timothy Bradley (28-0, 12KOs) and WBC 154-pound champion Miguel Cotto (37-2, 30KOs).

Pacquiao stopped Cotto in the twelfth round of a 2009 welterweight bout, fought at a catch-weight of 145-pounds. Cotto, now with a new trainer and refocused, believes he would beat Pacquiao in a rematch. Marquez fought Pacquiao three times, in three close fights, which includes a twelve round majority decision loss in November.

Floyd Mayweather Jr. “is out of the picture” says Arum, after Wednesday's court hearing in Las Vegas - where Mayweather was sentenced to 90 days in jail for a domestic abuse charge. With good behavior, the boxer could be released in early March.

“It’s all up to Manny,” said Arum. “But I’d like him to fight in the spring."

Arum would still like to stage Mayweather-Pacquiao in 2012, possibly in November.