Pacquiao vs. Mayweather: Arum Says Super Bout More Likely with 50 Cent and TMT

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum recently told The Ring that he believes the long-awaited superfight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd "Money"  Mayweather would become more of a possibility if Mayweather opts to be promoted by friend and business partner, rapper 50 Cent's newly formed TMT ("The Money Team") Promotions.

Arum told The Ring:

"

I would think that if (50 Cent) promoted Floyd, then it would make a matchup between Pacquiao and Mayweather that much easier. You would have somebody that is a friend and a mentor that he can rely on and they would protect his interests in any kind of promotion, and I would be on the side of Pacquiao.

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TMT has already made waves in the boxing world within its first couple of weeks of being formed, as they have signed six fighters so far, including former champs Andre Berto, Zab Judah and Yuriorkis Gamboa to name a few. 

A Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown has not happened on several attempts to get the fight signed due to breakdowns in the negotiation phase between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions—who have promoted Mayweather's last six fights.

Golden Boy has already gotten into it with TMT, as 50 Cent and Golden Boy's Oscar De La Hoya had a much publicized Twitter spat late last month (per ESPN) when 50 Cent told De La Hoya "Money" would never work with Golden Boy again.

The boxing world could only hope that Mayweather chooses to be promoted by TMT, as if Pacquiao's promoter is saying that the mega-fight is easier to make with Golden Boy out of the picture.

With "Money" reportedly being a partner in TMT with 50, it seems like a win-win situation for the five-division champ. Mayweather would have a trusted friend helping with the negotiations and would also not have to pay a percentage to Golden Boy, keeping his fighting contracts and the money that comes with them in-house.