Manny Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum has told an American newspaper that the two television paymasters blocking a potential fight between the Filipino and his arch-rival Floyd Mayweather are prepared to form a bilateral agreement to make the contest happen in 2015.
“Both networks want this fight to happen. All signs seem to point to the fight happening early next year,” Arum told the San Francisco Chronicle.
Pacquiao, an eight-weight world champion who has risen from rags in a shanty town to become a Congressman in The Philippines, should have faced unbeaten Mayweather, considered the No 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the sport, as long as five years ago. The mega-fight could generate a quarter of a billion US dollars.
“There is a sell-by date, where it becomes ‘Who cares?'” added Arum.
“It has to happen by the first six months of next year. And if it happens, there should be a provision with a different percentage for the rematch. So that the winner is rewarded for winning the fight. I would love to see these guys fight twice next year.”
