By Chris Williams: WBA/WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr says there has been no such discussions for a fight between him and WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao. In fact, Mayweather says the talk of him fighting Pacquiao is lies. Pacquiao was recently quoted as saying that there are negotiations between his promoter Bob Arum and Mayweather’s camp.
“There are serious negotiations with the Mayweather camp and my promoter,” Pacquiao was quoted by the Mirror.co.uk.
Mayweather responded to the Pacquiao fight rumors to Fighthype.com, saying “All lies. You know better than that!”
When I heard Pacquiao and Arum talking about the Mayweather fight, I didn’t believe it for a second, because Mayweather has already made himself pretty clear about what Pacquiao needs to do in order to get a fight against him and thus far he hasn’t done what Mayweather has asked him to. Mayweather mentioned that if Pacquiao leaves Top Rank when his contract is up with them then there could possibly be a fight against him.
Mayweather also said that Pacquiao has unfinished business with Juan Manuel Marquez that he needs to clear up first before they could take about a fight between them. Pacquiao took care of his Tim Bradley problem, but Pacquiao still needs to avenge his loss to Marquez before he can talk about a Mayweather fight.
If Mayweather is still fighting in 2 ½ years when Pacquiao’s current contract with Top Rank expires at the end of 2016 then there’s a possibility that they could face each other, but other than that, I don’t see a fight between them happening. Pacquiao extended his contract with Top Rank earlier this year instead of looking to get the Mayweather fight after his contract expired.
When Pacquiao signed the extension with Top Rank a lot of boxing fans saw that as the end of any chance of the two fighters facing each other unless Mayweather changes his mind about not wanting to deal with Arum. But it doesn’t look like Mayweather is going to change his mind, and it’s doubtful that Mayweather will still be fighting in 2017, which is the earliest that him and Pacquiao can fight if he’s going to wait until Pacquiao’s current contract with Top Rank expires.
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