Arum hopeful Mayweather-Pacquiao gets made this week

MANILA, Philippines – Top Rank Inc. chief Bob Arum is optimistic that a super fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. will be finalized in the next few days.

In a boxingscene.com report by veteran boxing scribe Steve Kim, Arum is hopeful that everything will be ironed out for the planned May 2 showdown between two of the biggest stars in boxing

“Hopefully, it'll get done this week. So it is what it is," the promoter said.

“Well, it is what it is. I'm not going to say one thing or another, now. If it doesn't happen, it doesn't happen. Time will tell,” he added.

The Pacquiao and Mayweather camps have been in serious discussions the past few weeks but so far, nothing definite has come out from the talks. Pacquiao has given Mayweather until the end of the month to decide, while the latter is expected to come up with an announcement by this week.

Reports claim Mayweather is leaning toward a rematch with Miguel Cotto instead, and in a few days it will be known if the highly anticipated Mayweather-Pacquiao bout remains elusive.

But there was a ray of hope after Pacquiao and Mayweather personally met at a Miami Heat NBA game on Wednesday, shaking hands and exchanging phone numbers. Boxing fans are hoping this chance encounter will turn into an actual encounter on the ring.

Nevertheless, Pacquiao is ready to move on without Mayweather. That’s where Amir Khan’s name came up.

Arum confirmed that the Filipino will go for Khan – the British star who was once Pacquiao’s sparring partner – in case a Mayweather fight won’t be made.

“Pretty much, yeah. We've been making plans for [Pacquiao-Khan] to happen if the Mayweather fight doesn't happen,” he said.

In a few days, the world will know. – Dino Maragay