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Bob Arum knows what fans like, he knows what fans want. He knows what fans like. Fans like. Fans like the idea of Mayweather-Pacquiao still, and Bob is willing to oblige the talk and say there's a possibility it will happen.
Speaking to an Australian radio show, Arum said that there's a chance that Mayweather-Pacquiao can happen in the second half of 2014, provided Pacquiao (54-5-2, 38 KO) looks good and beats Brandon Rios on November 23, when they meet in Macao on HBO pay-per-view.
With Mayweather (45-0, 26 KO) now fighting on Showtime exclusively and Pacquiao on HBO, with promoters Top Rank (Pacquiao) and Golden Boy/Haymon/Mayweather (Mayweather) not working together at all, Arum had to cite the 2002 mega-fight between Lennox Lewis and MIke Tyson as evidence that the networks can come together for a big enough fight.
While Mayweather-Pacquiao definitely would fit that bill, the fact is that the networks are probably more embroiled in rivalry than they were in '02, as there have been clear lines drawn in the sand on both sides. Curtis Stevens' nickname of "Showtime" wasn't even announced on last night's HBO boxing broadcast, as Michael Buffer introduced him as Curtis "It's My Time" Stevens.
The only way I can personally see the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight happening at this point -- it doesn't even matter if HBO were involved. It's down to Arum and Mayweather, and Mayweather will not work with Arum. I'm sure Arum would work with Floyd for the money, because it's a lot of money, but Floyd doesn't want to put change in Arum's pocket, and that's his call. He's got his reasons. I'd still love to see the fight, but I just cannot imagine it happening with Arum involved in the process anymore.