Floyd Mayweather recently said in a Manny Pacquiao next fight news that he is open to facing the Filipino boxing icon, and his Pay-Per-View carrier, Showtime, expressed desire to arrange the super bout.
Showtime vice president Stephen Espinoza said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times that Pacquiao is on top of the list of possible opponents for Mayweather, who has two fights left in his contract with the PPV carrier.
However, Espinoza admitted that there have been no significant talks about the super fight at this point, but he believes that the two boxing superstars will eventually face each other.
"In terms of the actual substance of discussions, it hasn't progressed to anything that's worth commenting on," Espinoza said in a Manny Pacquiao next fight news. "But if you're saying, at this stage of their careers -- with the finish line in sight -- is there maybe more psychological pressure or interest to get that one fight out of the way that's always eluded you? Absolutely."
Previous negotiations for the mega fight went down as both camps did not agree to each other's demands like the random drug testing Mayweather asked for and the fight purse split.
Espinoza is aware of the possible hurdles for the fight, including the conflict between Mayweather and Top Rank Promotions boss Bob Arum, but he believes the both superstars will eventually set aside their respective egos and give the fans the fight they have been calling for.
"There's been different obstacles each time, but ever since that first negotiation, I've never doubted Floyd's interest in doing it," Espinoza said. "There's another guy on the other side with an ego and a championship history, as well."
But while Pacquiao's camp has been talking about the possible fight against Mayweather recently, Algieri said in a Manny Pacquiao next fight news that the former pound-for-pound king should focus on him first.
Algieri, who will face Pacquiao for the World Boxing Organization welterweight title on Nov. 22 in Macau, said that he is determined to score an upset against his heavily-favored opponent.
"I'm a competitor, I'm a champion and I want to go in there to win," Algieri said via The Philippine Star. "That really, I think, is the difference between me and some of the other guys who've got their shot with Manny or with other big fighters, that they're getting caught up in the moment. I'm not that guy. I'm going in there to win this fight and I'm going to be as prepared as possible."
