Manny Pacquiao is 54-5-2 in his boxing career.
Manny Pacquiao is 54-5-2 in his boxing career. Reuters

The fight that boxing fans have been clamoring for doesn’t appear to be any closer to happening.

Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao won’t happen in the near future, and the undefeated boxer claims “Pac-Man” isn’t on his radar. In an interview with ESPN, Mayweather said that Pacquiao has even lesser boxers to take care of, before he can compete with him.

“First Manny Pacquiao has to get past Marquez, a guy that I beat with ease,” Mayweather told ESPN’s Jay Crawford. “I mean, that was one of my easiest fights. Manny Pacquiao still has Timothy Bradley problems. He still has Marquez problems. First, Manny Pacquiao has to get past those guys, and then he can step into the lion’s den with Floyd Mayweather.”

Pacquiao has lost his last two fights to the boxers that Mayweather mentioned. On June 9, he lost the WBO Welterweight title in a controversial decision to Bradley. In December, he was knocked out in the sixth round by Marquez. It was Pacquiao’s first defeat in four fights with his rival.

“I don’t think the fight really holds that much weight anymore,” Mayweather continued. “At one particular time, I wanted the fight to happen. In the past, I wanted to fight Manny Pacquiao.”

One of the biggest obstacles in getting the boxers to agree to face off has been the issue of revenue sharing. Mayweather has been unwilling to split the Pay-Per-View profits, equally, with Pacquiao. Mayweather is the biggest draw in boxing. Forbes reports that his nine PPV fights with HBO have generated 9.6 million buys and $543 million in revue.

While Pacquiao’s next fight has yet to be scheduled, Mayweather will enter the ring on May 4. He’ll take on Robert Guerrero, looking to extend his career winning streak to 44. It will be the boxer’s first bout since he beat Miguel Cotto on May 5.

For his next fight, Mayweather signed a new deal with Showtime, leaving HBO. According to Mayweather, the agreement could include up to six fights in a 30-month period.

The new deal hurts the chance of a potential bout between the two stars. Pacquiao would have to leave HBO and join Showtime for the fight to happen.

ESPN+ Boxing