The 36 year-old is currently promoting the likes of IBF light-middleweight champion Ishe Smith and undefeated prospect Badou Jack through his ‘TMT’ (The Money Team) brand and stated in a recent interview with Yahoo Sports that Pacquiao would be welcome to join them.
“The only way he’s (Pacquiao) getting the fight with me is if he signs with Mayweather Promotions,” Mayweather told Kevin Iole.
“He’s got to give me fights with Mayweather Promotions. If he don’t give me no fights under Mayweather Promotions, then he’s not getting the fight.
“That’s how it is working now, because the ball is in my court. The ball has been in my court. I have been the A side,” he added.
Pacquiao, 34, is currently scheduled to face Brandon Rios in November in his first outing since the now infamous knockout loss to Juan Manuel Marquez, with both fighters needing a big win to avoid two straight losses.
The general consensus around the sport is that Pacquiao may be closer now than he has ever been to securing a clash with Mayweather in 2014 as ‘Money’ runs out of viable opponents and Top Rank’s brightest star begins to wane.
A win for Mayweather against young pretender Saul Alvarez in September would all but rubberstamp the pound for pound king’s legacy as the one of the best of all time and would leave the two-weight champion with few options to fill his four remaining Showtime slots.
Interest in Mayweather v Pacquiao has certainly diminished in recent years after fans were let down badly in 2010, and then again in 2011, but some including myself still harbour hopes that the fight will happen before both legends step away from boxing.
