Mayweather, Pacquiao Headed for Mega Fight to Satisfy Fans

Newly crowned WBA junior middleweight champion Floyd Mayweather has again called out pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao for the mega fight every boxing fan in the world wants to see.

The unbeaten champion renewed his call to Pacquiao during the interview after his fight with Miguel Cotto Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena where he emerged winner via unanimous decision.

“I want to give the fans what they want to see,” said Mayweather. “Let's get that fight together.”

However, Mayweather said the fight may not happen at all because Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, is standing in the way of the mega fight.

“The truth is, Bob Arum is not going to let the fight happen,” Mayweather stated. “It’s not on me. I went to Pacquiao and I offered him forty-million dollars. I called him direct and I offered him forty-million dollars. He turned me down. He basically said 50/50. How can you ask for 50/50 when he’s not doing the same numbers that I’m doing? If you go back and read the article, he said he would do it for less. It’s just been a problem trying to make this fight.”

Mayweather believes the fight will happen once Pacquiao decides to leave Arum's Top Rank Promotions.

“Once he’s free from Bob Arum, will the fight happen? Absolutely. But as of right now, it’s not going to happen. Bob Arum is worried about making money. He’s not worried too much about the fight,” he added.

But Arum said Mayweather doesn't want to fight Pacquiao for a number of reasons. Aside from his fear of losing his unblemished record to Pacquiao, the Top Rank promoter, who promoted Mayweather for many years, thinks Mayweather is skirting the issue when he talked about health issues associated with performance enhancing drugs (PEDs).

"Manny Pacquiao is not using now and has not ever used steroids," Arum said. "But for now, forget about whether [Mayweather] has proof about what he's saying. It doesn't matter because for two years, Manny has said he'd agreed to the testing. Manny is saying that, not me. You've talked to him. He's told you himself. So if Manny has agreed to the testing, how is Floyd going to be disadvantaged when they'll be checking the blood and urine of both guys?"

Despite the continuing roadblocks being put up by both camps, boxing fans have not given up on the idea of having the mega fight between these two great fighters. 

For his part, Arum may give into the the wishes of the millions of fans from around the world by softening his stance and becoming more accommodating to Mayweather and his handlers in the next rounds of negotiations. Whether Arum likes it or not, Pacquiao will stop fighting for Top Rank as he will be retired by next year.

Given this situation, Arum will likely seize the moment by projecting himself as one promoter who cares for the fans by being more accommodating during the next rounds of negotiations. 

Pacquiao has declared he is retiring next year or after two more fights in addition to his scheduled fight with Palm Spring star Timothy Bradley on June 9.

Although a fight can be staged by the end of the year, Mayweather may find it difficult to make adjustments as he will have to start serving his time in jail on June 1 which will take at least 87 days. 

After facing Bradley on June 9, Pacquiao is set to fight again in November and there is a very good possibility he will finally face Mayweather early next year.

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