History could finally be upon us.
The long rumored and equally anticipated brawl for-it-all between WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather and World Boxing Council top-rated contender Manny Pacquiao could be taking place as soon as next September.
According to YouTube boxing channel 78Sports TV, the plan calls for both fighters to face other, quality opponents over the next several months, all in effort to build up further excitement for their own battle. Mayweather is expected to face Britain’s Amir Khan, while details of Pacquiao’s pre-fight are yet to be finalized.
“Great news in the world boxing,” 78Sports reported late Friday. “A source is telling me that Floyd and Manny Pacquiao will be fighting in 2014 guaranteed and it’s already done.”
Mayweather is in the midst of a six-fight deal with Showtime and has already beaten such notable opponents as Canelo Alvarez and Robert Guerrero. His fight against Alvarez was the highest grossing fight ever.
Pacquiao, meanwhile, beat Brandon Rios in November, quickly and convincingly re-establishing his credentials after back to back losses to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez.
News of Mayweather vs. Pacquiao being a done deal comes ten years in the making, and last appeared to be on the horizon about a year ago before incessant bickering over drug-testing proposals led to his unraveling.
