Saying that he was "still very optimistic" about a fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao happening perhaps sometime in the fall, Top Rank Promotions CEO Bob Arum told FanHouse on Sunday, "we're approaching the time of resolution."
"I think that one way or another, we're approaching the time of resolution. One way or another," said the 78-year-old Arum. "I'm still very optimistic, and, you know, Manny and I want this fight to happen. But as I've said before, it takes two to tango."
Six-time champion Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts) and seven-division king, Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) appeared to be set to fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand before talks reached an impasse in December over random drug testing for both fighters to be conducted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
The fighters had agreed on a 50-50 split of the revenue, as well as eight-ounce gloves and a clash at the welterweight (147 pounds) limit rather than a catch weight.
But since the original talks collapsed, a mutually agreed upon gag order is in place for all parties involved in the negotiations until the talks are complete.
Arum has reportedly reserved the date of Nov. 13 for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, for the proposed mega fight, although it appears that the Las Vegas site is more likely.
"I can tell you that I don't think that this is going to be strung out for too much longer. I think that this is going to be resolved in the near term," said Arum. "I can't say whether it's going to be a week or two weeks, but it will be resolved one way or the other."
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