Boxing legend Manny Pacquiao may be preparing for his fight against Chris Algieri on Nov. 22 in Macau, but he has indicated that he wants to fight welterweight king Floyd Mayweather Jr. before ending his boxing career.
However, setting up a boxing match between Pacquiao and Mayweather, who have both indicated that they want to hang up their boxing gloves soon, has proven to be elusive time and again. Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who is also Pacquiao's promoter, thinks this fight is unlikely to happen.
"As far as the Pacquiao fight is concerned with Mayweather, as much as a lot of people surrounding that would want it to happen, myself included, Manny included, Floyd Mayweather is reluctant to fight Manny Pacquiao, period," Arum said to Fight Hype. "If people don't see that by now, they're never going to see."
Boxing fans have long wanted to see a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather, which could potentially break pay-per-view records if it ever happened. According to a Jobs & Hire article, Pacquiao wants to conduct a super fight against Mayweather in 2015.
"I do have one specific goal and that is to give the boxing fans the fight they have always asked for," Pacquiao said. "I want that fight too. I believe good negotiations could produce the fight."
Negotiations between Pacquiao and Mayweather have fallen flat in the past due to demands from both sides, according to Jobs & Hire. Pacquiao, along with his trainer Freddie Roach, has accused Mayweather of making excuses and ridiculous demands to prevent the fight from occurring.
"It is impossible to negotiate when you are the only one sitting at the table," Pacquiao noted. "Two fighters who want to fight each other have never been kept from fighting each other."
One factor that may be preventing this epic matchup is that both sides work for different channels; Showtime airs Mayweather's fights, while Pacquiao has a contract with HBO Sports. Roach speculated in a Latin Post article that Mayweather, a Michigan native, has no interest working with Top Rank Promotions.
"From what I hear, Mayweather refuses to work with Top Rank and will only fight at the MGM because they pay him to fight there," Roach said. "Mayweather has a great deal with Showtime. Even if Showtime loses on his fights, he ends up making lots of money so I can't see that changing."
However, scheduling a matchup between Mayweather and Pacquiao will depend on the welterweight results from the Pacquiao-Algieri fight, which is being held by the World Boxing Organization. Arum cited a clause where a rematch may happen if Algieri wins the Macau fight.
"As far as if Chris Algieri wins the fight for Manny Pacquiao, then there is a provision in the contract for a rematch," Arum said. "And if he then beats Pacquiao and beats Manny in a rematch and Floyd wants to fight him, that's not my business. That's up to Joe DeGuardia and it is up to the Mayweather camp."
Mayweather has not commented yet on a potential fight with Pacquiao.
