Mayweather Jr.-Pacquiao likely in 2016

Bob Arum thinks that Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Manny Pacquiao is going to take place not this year or next but in 2016.

Yes, fight fans from around the world may have to wait that long.

Arum spoke to Reuters about the great possibility, and why he thinks Mayweather is holding his best for perhaps his last fight.

“I think that fight will eventually happen,” said Arum, now in his 80s.

“He (Mayweather) would figure, ‘Why don’t I do those [three] fights for the easy money and then in 2016, with my 50th fight, I could beat the [49-0] record of [Rocky] Marciano by fighting Pacquiao’,” Arum added.

Mayweather is 46-0 with three more bouts left in his exclusive contract with Showtime. Arum sees no problem with the American winning his next three fights.

Mayweather chooses his opponents well because he loves that zero in his resume.

Pacquiao, on the other hand, doesn’t care who is put in front of him. He’s not scared to lose as long as he gives the fans a great show.

The Filipino congressman is 56-5-2 and is 2-2 in his last four fights. But people still come to see his fights. Win or lose Pacquiao doesn’t disappoint.

Fight fans have clamored for the fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao the last few years, and a couple of times it came close to happening. But things always stand in the way. Mayweather wanted random testing and when Pacquiao agreed, the American turned to the money issue. Then Pacquiao agreed to take a lesser amount, even saying he’d do the fight for charity

Mayweather also said he doesn’t want to work with Arum, saying if Pacquiao leaves Top Rank, then they can sit down and talk.

But Pacquiao just a few days ago extended his promotional agreement with Top Rank, one that would expire on Dec. 31, 2016.

That means Pacquiao is good for three or four fights himself, one coming in November, most likely in Macau, and then a couple more in 2015.

Pacquiao said he’s just waiting for Mayweather to make the move, adding that his lines are open 24/7. “I’m just waiting for his call,” said Pacquiao. Arum thinks that call may come in 2016. By that time, Pacquiao would be 37 and busy with the elections in the month of May, and Mayweather pushing 40.

Arum, now 82, is willing to wait.