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While their advisers continue to play a public relations game with the media and fans, both Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao seem to be on the same page. The boxing world wants to see them once and for all settle who is the best boxer in the world today and they agree.
In an interview with Fighthype.com Mayweather said May 5, 2012 is the date the fight should happen.
"I been told the boy May 5th is open. Sign the contract," Mayweather said. "Losing is in Pacquiao's mind because he lost just last week. He lost to Marquez three times. May 5 is the date, sign the contract, I'm waiting. I can't be sitting waiting all day, you want to fight let's make it happen. I'm here, I'm waiting, what's going on? I can sign today. If I sign today you better sign tomorrow. You said you're a clean athlete and you said you'd take the test so let's do it."
Signing the contract is exactly what Pacquiao wants to do according to ABC-CNBNews.
"Negotiations are ongoing for my fight with Mayweather, but nothing is final," Pacquiao said. "Mayweather may be thinking, I can fight Pacquiao now because he had trouble against Marquez, and I was able to beat up Marquez."
RingTV is reporting that Pacquiao's advisor Michael Koncz, went to visit Mayweather at his gym last week and took pictures with the champ.
Top Rank boss Bob Arum told the Manilla Bulletin that he is in talks with two investment groups who want to stage the event. According to Arum the same groups are reportedly also in talks with Mayweather.
“Mayweather is going solo,” said Arum, indicating that Money May will not be negotiating through Golden Boy Promotions.
"This is what boxing fans are waiting for," says Pacquiao.
The stumbling block that had prevented this mega-fight from happening in the past has been Mayweather's insistence that Pacquiao agree to Olympic-style drug testing. That no longer appears to be a hurdle.
"For two years, Manny Pacquiao has said that he would agree to random, Olympic-style drug testing. Manny Pacquiao has said that he would do it," Arum claims.
There is also the issue of a lawsuit Pacquiao filed in 2009 against Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., Roger Mayweather, Mayweather Promotions and Golden Boy Promotions executives Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer for defamation of character. Arum indicated that could be worked out.
"[The lawsuit] is not a problem. That's something that could probably get worked out as part of a negotiation."
Floyd Mayweather Jr. calls out Manny Pacquiao for May 5, 2011 fight
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