Floyd Mayweather Calls Out Manny Pacquiao for May 2 Fight

Floyd Mayweather has seemingly long been dodging a potential fight with Manny Pacquiao, but the undefeated boxing superstar made it clear Friday evening that he wants Pac-Man in the ring.

According to ESPN.com's Dan Rafael, Money revealed in a Showtime interview that he would love to finally give the fans what they want by facing Pacquiao in five months.

"We are ready. Let's make it happen. May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let's do it," Mayweather said.

While Pacquiao has been vocal about wanting to fight Mayweather recently, the latter has largely been mum on the subject. That has caused many to accuse him of ducking his Filipino rival, but Mayweather now insists that isn't the case, per Rafael:

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So let's make this fight happen. Manny Pacquiao, [Top Rank promoter] Bob Arum, you guys have been ducking us for years. We're tired of you guys fooling the public, fooling the critics. You guys didn't want to take random blood and urine testing, so that's why it didn't happen. Then I offered you $40 million, then you didn't want to make the fight happen. You lost twice, now you coming back begging for the same money. That's not gonna happen. Let's make the fight happen for the people and the fans. Mayweather versus Pacquiao, May 2, Cinco de Mayweather.

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Mayweather recently talked about both Pacquiao and Amir Khan, saying that the latter's name held no weight to him:

Pacquiao took to Twitter to further encourage Mayweather to take the fight:

Even though Mayweather has finally laid down a challenge, not everyone is convinced of his sincerity. ESPN's Skip Bayless believes it is an act on Money's part:

Despite both sides now claiming to want the fight, this is obviously far from a done deal. Money and testing will be hot-button issues, as Mayweather pointed out, as will the logistics of the potential dream bout.

With Mayweather representing Showtime and Pacquiao representing HBO, either one side will have to cave or the two companies will have to put on a joint production.

Whatever the case, Mayweather's public insistence that he wants to face Pac-Man has to be considered a step in the right direction. If the two sides are now able to meet somewhere in the middle, then the biggest boxing match of the past quarter-century could very well take place on May 2.

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