Pacquiao vs. Mayweather: How, Where and When This Fight Could Happen

For the better part of the past couple years, the talk of the boxing world has been when, or if, Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will finally meet in the ring. The two seemed close to agreeing on a fight on a couple occasions, only for semantics to ruin what everyone is dying to see.

Mayweather refused to fight Pacquiao unless he agreed to Olympic-style drug testing, but Pacquiao and his camp wouldn't budge. This prompted many to speculate that Mayweather didn't actually want to face Pacquiao at all and that he was dodging him.

After defeating Ricky Hatton in 2007, Mayweather retired from boxing, though nobody truly believed that it would last. Those suspicions were proven true as he returned from a 21-month respite in order to face Juan Manuel Marquez. Mayweather destroyed Marquez in a 12-round decision and further asserted his dominance.

Mayweather once again "retired" after defeating Shane Mosely, but is back to face WBC Welterweight Champion Victor Ortiz on Saturday. Meanwhile, Pacquiao will face Marquez for the third time in November. After that, both fighters' schedules will be clear. Is a super fight on the horizon? If it is, here is how it must go down.

How?

First and foremost, both Mayweather and Pacquiao need to win their upcoming bouts if a Mayweather/Pacquiao fight is going to keep its luster. Mayweather won't have an easy go against the much younger Ortiz who is currently considered to be one of the two best welterweights in the world.

Pacquiao has struggled in two previous matches with Marquez, as they fought to a draw on the first occasion and Pacquiao won the second bout based on a highly-controversial decision. Provided both men can persevere as they normally do, the possibility of a Mayweather/Pacquiao contest should still be intact come November.

The biggest sticking point that will need to be bypassed, in order for the fight to happen, is that both men will have to put their egos aside. This is easier said than done, especially for Mayweather. There is absolutely no reason why Pacquiao and Mayweather shouldn't split the gate 50/50. Both fighters are equally big draws and each have had incredible careers.

Also, there has to be some compromise regarding Olympic-style drug testing. Either Mayweather has to drop it and trust that Pacquiao is clean, or Pacquiao has to accept it. Personally, I see no reason why Pacquiao should decline Olympic-style testing unless he has something to hide.

If all of that can be solved, which will be admittedly difficult, a Mayweather/Pacquiao bout could finally be in the cards.

Where?

Vegas, baby! In today's world of boxing, the biggest stage a fight can possibly take place on is located in Las Vegas. If any fight is deserving of the glitz and glamor that Vegas provides, it is the one that could very well help save the stagnant sport of boxing.

The MGM Grand would be the ideal venue because it would be an epic backdrop for a fight that has been years in the making. Madison Square Garden in New York would be a nice sentimental choice as it harkens back to the glory days of the sweet science, but Vegas simply cannot be ignored in this instance.

When?

Due to all of the semantics involved, this fight could very well be a year or so in the making. If the two sides resume negotiations immediately following Pacquiao's battle with Marquez, then perhaps they can finally agree on a fight after a couple months. There will be so many demands coming from either side that it would be shocking if a deal was reached any sooner than that.

Then, at least four to six months would have to be set aside for training. This would allow plenty of time to hype the fight, as if it hasn't already been hyped enough despite not being agreed upon. There would surely be plenty of theatrics and an HBO 24/7 documentary.

In all reality, it would be difficult to see this fight happening any sooner than a year from now. More realistically, I would expect a November bout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pac Man vs. Pretty Boy, Manny vs. Money, one match for all the marbles.