Despite latest pronouncements from the camp of Floyd Mayweather Jr. that Money is now willing to fight Manny Pacquiao more than once, Pacman says that he is resigned to the fact that the blockbuster fight would not happen.
To show that he is ready to move on from the 'almost impossible' Mayweather-Pacquiao fight, he disclosed that he is willing to fight British sensation Amir Khan, reports The Telegraph.
"A fight with Amir would be an exciting fight. I can fight him anywhere, even in England," the Pacman told The Telegraph in an exclusive interview.
Khan, a former sparring partner of the Pacman in the Los Angeles Wild Card gym of world-class trainer and Pacquiao coach Freddie Roach, recently expressed his desire to fight the World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, notes the report.
"I don't know how much longer I will fight. I'd like to retire in the next few years, so for now I am willing to face anybody," remarks Pacquiao.
Down Not Out
While the fight with Khan would surely be a money-maker for both fighters, it certainly cannot match the financial windfall that the Mayweather-Pacquiao would bring. So talks about the elusive fight may be down occasionally, but it can never be out.
The WBO welterweight champion, whose staking his title against American Chris Algieri this Sunday in Macau, says he pities Money for making up all kinds of excuses just to avoid fighting him, reports The Telegraph.
"I'll never be frustrated if the Floyd fight doesn't happen. Though I'm ready to fight him anytime, anywhere, it's him who refuses. I've made it clear that I want to fight him. It's up to him now," says the eight division world champion.
According to LA Times, two boxing officials close to Mayweather revealed that Money, contrary to speculations that he is avoiding the Pacman, has never wanted to fight Pacquiao as much as he does now. One of the officials also disclosed that Floyd hinted that he wanted to end his deal with Showtime with consecutive fights against the Pacman.
Money's interest on the bout is now being heightened by the involvement in the negotiations of CBS Corp, the parent company of Showtime, cites the LA Times.
For the longest time, Showtime and Bob Arum's Top Rank Promotions have yet to come to terms for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. Officials from both outfits confirmed that proposals for the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight have been exchanged this November.
But Arum dismissed rumors that he has rejected a $40 million guarantee offer in addition to the 35% share of the pay-per-view profit for Manny to fight Floyd. He also denied presenting CBS a 55%-45% purse split for the would-be bout, in favor or Mayweather.