Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: What Must Happen for Super-Fight to Take Place

Manny Pacquiao's team has been raving endlessly about how focused and prepared he is for his June 9 bout against Timothy Bradley, yet no one can stop talking about the possibility of him facing Floyd Mayweather next year.

The best way for Pacquiao to make sure the super-fight of the century actually happens is, first and foremost, by ensuring that he doesn't suffer a loss at the hands of the undefeated Bradley. If he really is as focused as Bob Arum and Freddie Roach insist, though, it sets the stage perfectly for an epic Pacquiao vs. Mayweather showdown.

Will it happen? Probably not. But it's still fun to speculate. Here's how the cards need to fall in order for the fight to go down.

1. Pacquiao Needs to Win on June 9

This is a given. If Pacquiao doesn't beat Bradley, the epic showdown with Mayweather will be impossible. On the bright side, though, the questions about which one of them is the greatest boxer will stop.

That's why it's so important for Pacquiao to maintain his focus leading up to his fight with Bradley, which is starting to lose some thunder in comparison to other controversies surrounding Pac-Man at the moment, including his renewed dedication to his religion and his denunciation of gay marriage.

This is one of the most significant fights of Pacquiao's career. Its implications are colossal: He needs to win to prove that the undefeated Bradley is not invincible, he needs to win to preserve his legacy and he needs to win to keep a potential bout with Mayweather on the table.

The importance of a win cannot be overstated, and as a result, it's the only thing Pacquiao—and his promoter and trainer, for that matter—should be talking about right now.

2. Bob Arum Needs to Stop Getting in the Way

It's really starting to seem like Arum doesn't want Pacquiao to face Mayweather. Is he afraid Pacquiao will lose? Possibly.

If these two boxers never get in the ring together, both of them get to go down in history as two of the co-best fighters ever. Mayweather gets to keep his undefeated record, and Pacquiao gets to keep his reputation.

But if they do fight, they will be responsible for what could be the most anticipated, most lucrative fight in history.

Mayweather has long been singing the refrain that Arum doesn't want this fight to happen. After beating Miguel Cotto earlier this month, Mayweather told HBO, according to BoxingNews24.com: 

"

The fight didn’t happen because of Bob Arum. Bob Arum is in the way. He’s stopping the Pacquiao fight. Let’s give the fans what they want to seem—me and Pacquiao. I can’t say who’s on my radar. … Like I’ve said before, I’ve been trying to make the Pacquiao fight. 

"

Arum, meanwhile, has appeared on radio shows and TV shows offering commentary on Mayweather's style and claiming he wouldn't stand a chance against Pacquiao. But alas, no fight. Why?

If Arum really is getting in the way, he needs to take a step back and let his client forge ahead with the inevitable. It could be good for Pacquiao's career, but it will certainly be good for his pockets—and for the sport as a whole.

3. Floyd Mayweather Needs to Back Down on the Financial Stipulations

Pacquiao and Mayweather have both claimed that they're willing to make the fight happen, but Pacquiao has been unwilling to take any of Mayweather's financial offers.

In February, Pacquiao claimed that Mayweather offered him as much as $40 million for the fight but no pay-per-view money—a "compromise" Pacquiao has publicly scoffed at.

Pacquiao told Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole: 

"

He talks, he says all this, but you know what: He doesn’t want the fight. I want the fight. I’m the one who has wanted this fight all along. … I told him, "OK, 50-50 [with the money] and I’ll agree to everything else." I told him I would agree to all of the other things he was demanding. Everything. Even the blood testing he wanted, I would do it. But it had to be 50-50. 

"

It may not seem fair to Mayweather, who clearly believes he's the draw in this matchup. Or maybe Pacquiao is just hiding behind complaints about the money because he doesn't want to fight.

Whatever the case, Mayweather needs to back down on his insistence over keeping all of the pay-per-view money, which could amount to as much as $160 million, according to Iole. Pacquiao is fighting, too; he deserves to be paid for it.

It's a he-said-he-said battle at this point, and no one knows which boxer is bluffing or which one truly wants this fight to happen. But if they both want it and are willing to compromise, they can get it.

If Pacquiao beats Bradley—which he should—it's there for the taking.