Written By: Gareth A Davies
Manny Pacquiao has said he expects to announce the eagerly anticipated mega bout with Floyd Mayweather Jr “before the end of the month,” according to reports in his country.
“We will make an announcement before the end of the month," he said according to a report in the Manila Standard. "I think it will happen.”
According to sources in the United States good progress is being made to stage the fight this year, with the two parties having agreed in principle on a venue, expected to be the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
It also appears that an agreed drug-testing policy has been put in place, but a date, purse-split and any other contractual arrangements, such as whether it will be televised by Showtime, Mayweather's television paymasters, or HBO, who support Pacquiao, are all still to be finalised.
What is known is that the timeframe for the mega-fight being discussed is May and June.
Bob Arum, Pacquiao's promoter, told Telegraph Sport: "I can't talk about it."
Both Pacquiao, aged 36 and with a record of 57-5-2, and Mayweather, 38, unbeaten in 47 fights, have been public in recent weeks in stating that they want the contest to happen this year.
But the Los Angeles Times quoted a boxing authority involved in the talks, who wished to remain anonymous, as saying "we’re making progress” on a fight that will have been on and off the table for five years come April this year.
Those involved in the talks between the two welterweight world champions suggest final decisions may be made in the next seven to 10 days.
It is understood that the television networks may unveil a plan to televise the bout jointly. Such a process was hatched for the 2002 heavyweight title fight between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson, with the broadcast eventually produced by HBO's crew, with announcers from both networks being involved in the telecast.
It may come as a bitter pill to British welterweight Amir Khan, who favours a fight with Mayweather, but has stated in recent days that he would also fight with former gym-mate Pacquiao.
In further Khan news, his US handlers Golden Boy Promotions, headed by Oscar De La Hoya, have settled in their multi-million dollar lawsuit against Richard Schaefer, its former CEO, over his split with the company.
A swathe of big-name fighters have left the company to be overseen by Mayweather Promotions and Al Haymon. Khan, however, it is understood, will continue on a fight-by-fight basis with Golden Boy while being still aligned with Haymon, who advises the most powerful roster of fighters in the sport.
Others continuing with a similar set-up to Khan include Leo Santa Cruz, Lucas Matthysse and Paulie Malignaggi.
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