Manny Pacquiao Stepped Up: Is Floyd Mayweather Backing Down?

It seemed that everything was in place for the super megafight bewteen Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

The Pac Man's camp stepped up. Mayweather's camp put the deal on hold.

According to Dan Rafael of ESPN Boxing, he said that Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, worked behind the scenes with Al Heyman, who's negotiating on Mayweather's behalf.

Arum initially gave the Mayweather camp until midnight Pacific Time Friday to accept the latest offer on the fight.

Heyman took the news back to Mayweather, who reportedly rejected the deal.

Now being the wise man that Arum is, he isn't upset at the games that Mayweather could be playing.

Mayweather is taking time off from boxing for now.

Arum thinks Mayweather isn't ready to fight.

The legal issues Roger Mayweather faces from an alleged assault is probably on his mind too.

If Pacquiao's camp sticks to the deadline, it means they're not bound to Mayweather's demands.

But just in case, Arum will keep the door open for "Money" if he changes his mind.

If the ducks line up in a row, that fight could happen this November or sometime next year.

Pacquiao is the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world, according to ESPN.com. Mayweather is No. 2 and middleweight Paul Williams is ranked third.

As I said before, there's no freakin' way the Pac Man is the best PFP fighter in the world.

Ring Magazine ranks Mayweather as the top welterweight and Pacquiao behind him.

Now that's more like it!

Look at the numbers: Mayweather is 41-0 with 25 knockouts. Pacquiao is 51-3-2 with 38 KO's.

It looks to me that the undefeated boxer get the most props.

In case the Pacquiao camp moves on, a rematch with Miguel Cotto or a fight with Antonio Margarito is on the horizon.

There's a funny feeling that neither man will have a crack at Pacquiao.

In the 11th hour, Mayweather will take the fight because he'll lose a big payday.

Ross Greenberg of HBO is ready for the megafight, and so am I.

Should the fight not take place and the Pacquiao camp move on, the commercial value of Mayweather is as expendable as his cash.

The grim reaper is knocking at Floyd's door, and it's time for him to step up to the plate.

Will Mayweather hit the fastball—or strike out on a changeup?