Pacquiao-Mayweather fight likely to happen in 2015, says Arum

Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao. FILE PHOTOS

MANILA, Philippines—There is no killing yet the dream match of many boxing fans.

Boxing promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank, said that the highly-anticipated match between eight-division world boxing champion Manny Pacquiao and undefeated boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. may still happen in 2015 depending on the negotiations of the two rival pay-per-view networks tied with the two fighters.

In an interview with the San Francisco Chronicle released Thursday, Arum said that HBO, which is linked to Pacquiao’s Top Rank, and CBS/Showtime, which has a contract with Mayweather, both like to broadcast the fight very soon.

“Both networks want this fight to happen,” Arum said. “All signs seem to point to the fight happening early next year.”

The Top Rank chief also said that the fight should take place in the first half of 2015, stating that time is ticking for both boxers who are nearing their 40s, Mayweather is 37 years old and Pacquiao is 35 years old.

“There is a sell-by date, where it becomes (after that) ‘Who cares?’ It has to happen by the first six months of next year,” Arum said.

He also said that he would love to see two fights between the boxing giants next year, with a different percentage provision as a “reward” to the winner of the first match.

Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach stated that the fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather should have happened earlier and believes that “it’s still the biggest fight out there, and there is still a huge audience that wants to see it.”

Pacquiao is currently in the United States to promote his upcoming World Welterweight Championship fight against American boxer Chris Algieri in November.

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