CEO of Top Rank, Bob Arum, has suggested a fight for Manny Pacquiao if the UFC and Floyd Mayweather fail to reach an agreement for the highly anticipated boxing match against Conor McGregor.
Pacquiao will be facing Australia’s Jeff Horn on July 2 in a match at Suncorp Stadium in Brisbane, Australia. He is the only boxer to become an eight-division champion. But, after this match, Pacquiao is going to be available.
If the President of the UFC, Dana White, who has planned a deal with McGregor (21-3 MMA, 9-1 UFC), fails to negotiate with Mayweather (49-0 boxing), and McGregor is still willing to compete in the ring, Pacquiao will be the option to be considered, according to Bob Arum.
Arum, who is involved in the promotion of Pacquiao told TMZ that Manny Pacquiao is available if McGregor is looking for an opponent.
Arum is experienced in negotiating with Mayweather’s team. A fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao had been a hot topic of discussion for years before being finally executed in May of 2015, in a match that ultimately failed to deliver. Mayweather managed to score a unanimous decision win over the Filipino star.
It appears as though there is no deadline between the UFC and Mayweather, which is why White was advised by Arum as he plans negotiations with Mayweather’s team.
Arum advised White to be patient and not give in, explaining how good Dana is as a negotiator and showing belief that he will get the thing done. He also reminded that he cannot be pushed around by Mayweather and his people.