Welterweight

Mayweather Jr denies Pacquiao reports

ESPN staff

January 3, 2014

A fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao has long been touted but never confirmed © AP

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Unbeaten welterweight star Floyd Mayweather Jr has denied reports that a blockbuster fight against Manny Pacquiao has been arranged for September, telling Fighthype.com the story was a "lie".

A fight between the pair is predicted to gross around $300 million if arranged - which would be the highest total in history - and has been talked about by boxing fans and pundits for years.

However, Mayweather Jr has now quashed the rumours and maintained there was no truth in reports stating he had agreed a deal to fight his great rival.

"All the stories you hear about Pacquiao is a lie. It's a lie. It's not true," Mayweather Jr told the website. "If it didn't come from Leonard's [Ellerbe] mouth, my mouth, or Al's [Haymon] mouth, it's not true."

In December, the 36-year-old revealed he would not be prepared to fight Pacquiao while the Filipino remained with his former promoter Bob Arum.

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