Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Bob Arum Says Pac-Man Won't Fight Floyd Mayweather

Boxing fans can stop pinching themselves because the dream that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather would fight this May has ended. 

SI.com reports boxing promoter Bob Arum has issued a statement that Pacquiao's next fight will not be against Mayweather, ending hopes to see one of the most sough after fights in decades. 

Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix put forth this tweet on Wednesday evening. 

This ends months of speculation that Pacquiao vs. Mayweather would finally be a reality. 

What It Means

The report by Mannix states Pacquiao has decided who he will fight next, and the boxing promoter was only able to release four names: Juan Manuel Marquez, Timothy Bradley, Miguel Cotto or Lamont Peterson. 

None of them offer any consolation to boxing fans who have been starved of a marquee match that would actually deliver in hype as well as in substance. 

Arum contends that the issue was the timing of the proposed fight. The May 5th deadline left not enough to time have construction of a facility completed. Arum added that the fight could go on in November. 

What's Next?

If you are wondering where this is headed next, that's simple. One fighter is headed deep into training and another is going to jail. 

Floyd Mayweather had his 90-day domestic violence jail sentence pushed back to June 1st in the hope that a May 5th fight would spur the local economy. 

Meanwhile, Pacquiao will pick one of four fighters that he should be able to beat and head into training for a fight at some point this summer. 

What we can now enjoy is the shift from Mayweather wanting a fight to Pacquiao and his camp asking for a November bout. A fall or winter fight is perfect as Pac-Man will be fresh off another victory and Mayweather will be out of jail. 

Money May will, of course, balk. There is no way his first fight out of the clink is against Pacquiao. Ring rust fear means we are at least a year away from the epic fight that is more likely to never happen. 

Follow @gabezal