By Pawel Pronishev

Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya is delighted with the recent news that Manny Pacquiao, the WBO's welterweight champion, held a recent press conference in General Santos City in the Philippines, and told local reporters that he was very interested in fighting Floyd Mayweather Jr., the WBC champion at 147, in 2012. Mayweather has a reserved date of May 5th on HBO and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas has been placed on hold.

With Pacquiao's recent announcement, De La Hoya feels the Filipino fighter's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank, is now under a lot of pressure to make the fight happen. De La Hoya and the executives of Golden Boy have claimed in recent weeks that Arum was interested in negotiating a possible deal for a Mayweather-Pacquiao mega-match.

"Bob Arum is under a lot of pressure from Pacquiao. Apparently, [Pacquiao] did an interview in the Philippines, saying he wants Mayweather next. It’s about time Pacquiao demands the fight to Bob Arum. Let’s give thanks to Manny Pacquiao for having a press conference [and] wanting the Mayweather fight. Looks like Pacquiao finally spoke for himself. Apparently he wants Mayweather next," De La Hoya wrote on his twitter page, and advised Arum to contact Golden Boy CEO Richard Schaefer to begin negotiations.