By Radio Rahim
WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao said it was time to "say something" - when asked about his decision to make a direct challenge to WBC/WBA champion Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Pacquiao, along with his promoter, Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, want the fight to come off in the first half of 2015. Arum is currently involved in negotiations with CBS CEO Leslie Moonves. CBS is the parent company of Showtime, who have Mayweather under an exclusive contract.
"I think it's time to say something. Like what I said [earlier], the people deserve that fight. The fans deserve that fight. I think it's time to say something. It's been a long time that I wanted that fight, but I didn't just want to keep talking and talking about that fight [because] the other camp is just denying, denying, always denying to talk about that fight - so it was better to say nothing," Pacquiao said.
"But right now I think the fans are involving in this issue of a fight with him. I think the fight it has to happen because the fans deserve that. For me, I want that fight to happen. It depends of my promoter's job [to get that fight for me].....my job is to prepare and fight. It's been a long time [that I've wanted this]."
Arum says it's "now or never." He wants to make every possible effort in getting a deal done.
"Speaking for Manny and myself - we're tired. Every place we go, everyone is asking 'when is it going to happen.' You cannot believe the number of times I'm questioned about it.....by just people, waiters, anybody....who want to know one question...when is it going to happen. I say enough is enough," Arum said.
