• Floyd Mayweather Jnr v Manny Pacquiao

If Floyd calls, the fight's on - Pacquiao's promoter

Bob Arum promotes Manny Pacquiao and his likely next opponent Timothy Bradley © PA Photos

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Manny Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum has strongly denied suggestions he is putting obstacles up to prevent the Filipino from facing Floyd Mayweather Jnr at some point this year.

Golden Boy Promotions supremo Oscar de la Hoya, who in the past has lent his assistance to Mayweather events, suggests that Arum is the biggest hurdle to overcome if the proposed super-fight is to take place.

Talks between Mayweather and Pacquiao for a May 5 clash never got off the ground last year, and Arum subsequently drew up a shortlist of alternative opponents: Lamont Peterson, Miguel Cotto, Juan Manuel Marquez and Timothy Bradley.

Pacquiao now looks most likely to fight Bradley - who is also looked after by Arum - on June 9, but his promoter insists the Mayweather battle is still in play for November.

"We can put this fight together now, not for May of course, but put it together now for November," Arum said to boxingscene.com. "All Floyd has to do, as far as I'm concerned, is to phone us or to send a text to Todd [DuBoef, president of Arum's company Top Rank], who he commuinicates with in that manner anyway. All Floyd has to do is to give us some direction. Let Mayweather tell us who he wants us to speak to make this fight.

"If Mayweather says, hey, this is my guy, this is who I want you to talk to, then we'll do that. I will pick up the phone or Todd will answer his text message. If Floyd does that, do you think I won't make the call, that I won't follow up to set up meetings with whoever he tells us to? Of course not, I will do my job as Manny's promoter. But we must know who Floyd wants us to deal with.

"I want to do this fight, I want reason to prevail. I want this fight to happen in November and it can. That [criticism] is absurd, those saying Arum doesn't want the Mayweather fight."

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