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Pacquiao tells Mayweather: Fans have waited too long

Manny Pacquiao dominated Chris Algieri last month © Getty Images

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As the rhetoric between the two boxers grows, Manny Pacquiao hasn't minced words when it comes to a potential fight with pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.

On Tuesday, Pacquiao went to the undefeated Mayweather on Twitter to let him know he's ready.

.@FloydMayweather, don't be a boxing humbug. Let's give the fans the fight they want. They have waited long enough.

— Manny Pacquiao (@MannyPacquiao) December 16, 2014

Mayweather-Pacquiao is a fight boxing fans have craved since 2009 but one that never has been agreed to due to various unsuccessful negotiations.

But a potential showdown seemingly took a step toward fruition on Friday night when Mayweather said during an interview on American television network Showtime that he wants to fight Pacquiao next and wants it to be on May 2, the Cinco de Mayo weekend that Mayweather has regularly fought on.

"We are ready. Let's make it happen. May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let's do it," Mayweather said.

The interview included Mayweather's first extended remarks on the prospect of the fight in quite some time, and it was the first time he directly said he wanted to fight Pacquiao next and mentioned a specific date.

Pacquiao responded earlier this week that he is willing and able.

"He [Mayweather] has reached a dead end," Pacquiao told Sky Sports. "He has nowhere to run but to fight me.

"I will try my best to make this a thrilling and entertaining fight, but I doubt if he's going to engage me in a slugfest.

"You all know his fighting style. Most of his previous fights, if not all, induced us to sleep."

Pacquiao, who turns 36 on Wednesday, is coming off a dominant near-shutout decision on November 22 against Chris Algieri to retain his welterweight title and move to 57-5-2 (38 KOs).

"I know what I have to do. I will chase him wherever he goes just in case he decides to run around the ring. We will devise a good fight plan against him," Pacquiao said.

Pacquiao also has no qualms about the division of the purse, with the fight expected to be the richest in boxing history.

"Mayweather can get the amount he wants. As early as January this year, I challenged him to a charity fight. Until now, he has not agreed to it. So, money is not the issue in our fight," he added.

"This fight is about legacy, this is about making the fans happy and, above all, this is for the good of boxing."

Mayweather, 37 and the sport's biggest draw, is 47-0 with 26 KOs.

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd