Hopkins says Floyd doesn’t want to fight Manny now

MANILA, Philippines – Floyd Mayweather is not running away from Manny Pacquiao. He just doesn’t want to fight him right away.

This is the belief of boxing’s living legend Bernard Hopkins, who said Mayweather might be planning to fight Pacquiao later in the year, thinking that taking an interim fight will only make their showdown bigger.

Speaking to Rick Reeno of boxingscene.com, Hopkins said if Mayweather doesn’t announce he’s fighting Pacquiao soon, then it’s time to move on.

“I think if Floyd Mayweather really wants to fight him, he would be announcing it right now. That's one side to look at it,” the 50-year-old boxer said.

Hopkins, a longtime middleweight champion who also held a light heavyweight title, thinks time is running out to make the fight possible for May 2

“We got to hear something soon. I believe he [Mayweather] wants Pacquiao last. Nobody who loves money would walk away from $80 million or however much he would make with all the bell and whistles. When someone has that mentality and loves money – they always want more. And I'm not saying if that's good or bad,” he added.

Talks for the megabuck bout have stalled the past few days, with some issues still needing to be ironed out. The boxing world has been keeping an eye on Mayweather, who will be the one to make the announcement once the Pacquiao duel is sealed.

Hopkins, for his part, doubts the fight will push through on May 2.

“But I don't think he wants Pacquiao now, because it would be a bigger hit if they both win their next one, or the two fights that Floyd has on his contract,” Hopkins continued.

Miguel Cotto is in the radar for Mayweather while Pacquiao is eyeing Amir Khan as an alternative. But those fights are nothing compared to a clash between two of boxing’s biggest stars.

“We know that if we don’t hear something soon, and I mean a press conference jumping off… I’m telling you that if you don’t hear something by next Sunday, you are going to have to start writing about the next hot fight,” said Hopkins.