Promoter Bob Arum claims Manny Pacquiao is ready to take on Floyd Mayweather Jr in a highly anticipated mega-fight. Plans for a March fight between the two fell through when Pacquiao rejected Mayweather's demand for random drug-testing in the build-up to the bout.
But Arum claims there are no longer any obstacles to a fight between Mayweather and his man.
"The ball's in Mayweather's court and if Mayweather doesn't fight him, that's Mayweather's decision," he said.
Mayweather had claimed Pacquiao's refusal to undergo blood tests up to the day of their proposed fight meant the five-weight world champion had something to hide.
However Filipino Pacquiao stated he had concerns that giving blood so close to a fight could have an adverse affect on him, but, in May, he relented and said he would be willing to take a blood test 14 days ahead of any clash.
I wouldn't say Floyd is ducking Manny because I personally think he would school him.
And, speaking at Yankee Stadium where Miguel Cotto won the WBA light-middleweight title from Yuri Foreman, Arum insisted Pacquiao, also in the audience in New York, is now desperate to see the fight go ahead, with Las Vegas the preferred venue.
"I'm telling you now, I've had long conversations with him, Manny Pacquiao's first goal is to get Mayweather in the ring and this whole drug-testing nonsense - I think it was nonsense, but Manny has now agreed," he said.
"I live there and I've no problem with the fight being in Vegas, and I know Manny has no problem either.
"There are things that I know that you don't about why Las Vegas will go to the last mile to get that fight and I would think that Las Vegas has to be the front runner."
If both camps can come to an agreement, the sport could be set for the richest fight in its history.
Since their failed negotiations, Mayweather (41-0, 25 KOs) has beaten Shane Mosley in Vegas on a unanimous decision while Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs), who was named fighter of the year by the Boxing Writers Association of America on Friday, dominated Joshua Clottey in Dallas.
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