Fight fans are still calling for a showdown between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr., but Bernard Hopkins believe that the fight will not happen anytime soon.
Hopkins told reporters on Thursday that long-dream Pacquiao vs Mayweather showdown will not happen as long as Bob Arum is still living, saying that the Top Rank boss is the main roadblock preventing the super fight from happening.
The reigning IBF and WBA light heavyweight champion quickly added that he is not wishing anything bad for Arum, but he insisted that fans should forget about the Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown because Arum will not make it happen.
"I don't see it, not as long as Bob Arum is living," Hopkins said. "That's about as strong as I can state it. I don't wish nothing on him. I just said as long as he's living I don't think you're going to see that fight ever happening. Well, you might. You got these video games where you can go and put Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather [in the ring] and depending on how good you are [you can see] who can win."
Mayweather, who will face Marcos Maidana on Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, has been firm about his stance on the Pacquiao fight, saying that the Filipino boxing icon should leave Top Rank if he wants a shot.
The 37-year-old Grand Rapids native, who will put his unbeaten record on the line against Maidana, insisted that he is not interested in doing business with Top Rank and Bob Arum again.
Pacquiao's contract with Top Rank will end this year, creating speculations that the super fight will finally happen in 2015. However, ESPN recently reported that Pacquiao is negotiating a new five-fight deal with Top Rank.
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Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's long-time adviser, confirmed the ongoing negotiation. When asked about the possible Mayweather fight, Koncz insisted that the new contract with Top Rank won't be a hindrance if Mayweather really wants to face Pacquiao.
"I don't believe Floyd not fighting us has to do with Bob," Koncz said. "Why did he wait until he exhausted all other excuses before saying he wouldn't fight Manny if Bob was involved? First he brought up the drug testing. Then he wanted Manny to sign with him. Then he wanted to pay Manny only a flat fee of $40 million for the fight instead of sharing a percentage and now he can't fight Manny because Bob would be involved?"
Pacquiao will defend his WBO welterweight title later this year, not against Mayweather, but possibly against the winner of the upcoming fight between Juan Manuel Marquez and Mike Alvarado on May 17 at The Forum in Los Angeles.
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