Bob Arum is "Optimistic" about Mayweather vs. Pacquiao

Bob Arum said that he is "optimistic" concerning a bout occurring between six-time champion, Floyd Mayweather, and, seven-division king, Manny Pacquiao, sometime in the fall, the 78-year-old Top Rank Promotions' CEO told BoxingScene.com.

A Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts)-Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) fight appeared to be set for 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 said that he has 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.

"There is nothing to write except that I'm very optimistic," said Arum, who has said, in the recent past, "I'm going to do my darndest to make [a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather] happen."