Negotiation Begins For $225M Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Fight in May

Eight-time division world champion Manny 'Pacman' Pacquiao revealed in a recent interview that negotiations have reportedly began for his much-awaited showdown with pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr.

According British media outfit Mirror, the 35-year old Pacquiao said there's already ongoing talk between his promoter, Top-Rank, and Mayweather's camp about the possibility of staging the fight many boxing fans have been waiting for.

"There are serious negotiations with the Mayweather camp and my promoter," Pacquiao told Mirror during his promotional tour of his showdown with undefeated American Christopher Algieri on Nov 23 at Venetian Macao Resort in Macau, China.

Pacquiao also revealed that the Dream Showdown with Money May will likely take place next year probably in Dubai with at least $225 million at stake in the mega-buck fight.

According to Top-Rank head Bob Arum, Pacquiao and Mayweather could duke it out twice next year, disclosing the pay-per-view giants HBO and Showtime are interested to set aside their animosity and agree on a two-fight deal.

"Both [TV] networks want this to happen. All signs seem to point to a first fight early next year." Arum told the press, "A second fight in the autumn would provide a different cash split because the winner of the first would claim the higher percentage. As each of them believes he would win, that provides an extra incentive."

Many would think that Pacquiao and Mayweather are about to face each other five years ago, but disputes over fight purse-sharing and blood testing procedures derailed negotiations. Arum, who handled Mayweather early in the boxer's career, believed the Grand Rapids native might be just too iffy to face Pacquiao because he sees the Filipino slugger as a threat to his immaculate boxing record.

"Mayweather values his zero, his undefeated record more than life itself ... Remember now this isn't a guy that has a lot of depth, this is a guy who lives on the surface as I see and being undefeated for him is everything," Arum said in an interview with Wall Street Journal.

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather fight is projected to be the most lucrative fight in boxing history that would break several records set by previous big fights - including Mayweather's showdown with Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.