2013 Report Card: Manny Pacquiao

What happened: In December 2012, Pacquiao was on the receiving end of one of the most devastating one-punch knockouts in boxing history, courtesy of Juan Manuel Marquez. Many doubted whether he would ever be the same again. Perhaps he won't, but in November he fought fantastically well against Brandon Rios in his highly-anticipated comeback. Rios may have been ponderous, but Pacquiao was sharp and aggressive, winning nearly every round.

What's ahead: A loss to Rios would have been his third in a row, and would surely have prompted calls for retirement. The convincing win, however, breathes a new lease of life into his career as it enters the final stretch. It seems he will fight for some time yet, and his enduring popularity means he will always be a strong pay-per-view draw.

Who's next: Inevitably, the public want to see him fight Mayweather, even if they're both in their twilight years. The demand for this won't stop until they're both long retired. Equally, many would like to see a fifth instalment in the epic Pacquiao-Marquez saga. Marquez currently holds the bragging rights after his crushing knockout win in 2012, but he recently lost to Timothy Bradley, and has insisted that the Pacquiao chapter of his career is over. However, could he really resist the lure of such a handsome payday? Danny Garcia, one of the game's young guns, would welcome the chance to remove old Pac Man from the landscape.

Who can beat him: The Filipino isn't an unbeatable force. Clearly Juan Manuel Marquez can, as he showed in emphatic fashion. Timothy Bradley can, though his win was highly controversial. Floyd Mayweather would definitely be the bookmakers' favourite if they were ever to meet, regardless of what Pacquiao's fans say.

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