By Rick Reeno
MGM Grand, Las Vegas - Based on his comments to media members at Thursday's final press conference for the Mayweather-Maidana undercard, IBF/WBA light heavyweight champion Bernard Hopkins views Top Rank's CEO, Bob Arum, as the main roadblock that prevents a highly anticipated super-fight between welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.
"I don't see it, not as long as Bob Arum [is] living. That's about as strong as I can state it. I don't wish nothing on him. I just said as long as he's living I don't think you're going to see that fight ever happening. Well, you might. You got these video games where you can go and put Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather [in the ring] and depending on how good you are [you can see] who can win. How else are you going to see it?," Hopkins said.
Promoter have tried for at least four years to finalize Mayweather-Pacquiao. At this point most insiders do not expect it to happen.
Mayweather has taken a hard line where he refuses to face Pacquiao until the Filipino superstar breaks away from his promotional agreement with Arum. Pacquiao's contract with Top Rank expires at the end of the year, but he is currently in serious talks for a five fight contract extension with Top Rank.
Pacquiao is scheduled to make a defense of his title in the fall, likely against the winner of May 17th's showdown between Juan Manuel Marquez and Mike Alvarado. And Mayweather returns this Saturday night in a WBC/WBA welterweight unification against Marcos Maidana.
