Manny Pacquiao is confident his awaited mega-fight with Floyd Mayweather Jnr will be announced by the end of this month.
The stumbling block for the fight appears to be the purse split with Floyd Mayweather refusing to agree to a 50/50 division. The mega-fight is worth at least $300million and the venue is anticipated to be the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with a preferred date of May 2nd.
Manny Pacquiao told the Manilla Standard: ‘We will make an announcement before the end if the month. I think it will happen.’
Mayweather wants to fight on May 2, the Saturday closest to the Cinco de Mayo holiday, as has been his tradition in recent years.
But that date has also been earmarked for Miguel Cotto’s proposed clash with Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez which would be one of the biggest fights in the history of the Puerto Rico-Mexico rivalry.
Mayweather said last month: ‘The public want this fight. I want it. The only stumbling block has been Bob Arum (Pacquiao’s promoter) but I think both fighters want it. So it’s time to get it on. I’m not ducking anyone, so let’s get this on.
Manny Pacquiao, who is ready to accept the smaller portion to end over a five year debate since the fight was first rumored.
Manny Pacquiao told Sky Sports: ‘Mayweather can get the amount he wants. I challenged him to a charity fight. Until now, he has not agreed to it. ‘So, money is not the issue in our fight. This fight is about legacy, this is about making the fans happy and, above all, this is for the good of boxing.
‘He has reached a dead end. He has nowhere to run but to fight me. I will try my best to make this a thrilling and entertaining fight. But I doubt if he’s gonna engage me in a slugfest. You all know his fighting style. Most of his previous fights, if not all, induced us to sleep.
‘I know what I have to do. I will chase him wherever he goes just in case he decides to run around the ring. We will devise a good fight plan against him.’