UAE Group's $200 million offer triggers Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao fight on May 2

Floyd Mayweather Jr has finally broken his silence and come out with what the boxing world wants to hear.

The unbeaten American welterweight says he is ready to fight Filipino ring icon Manny 'Pacman' Paquiao next.

In an interview on the Showtime network from a fight card he was promoting in San Antonio, Mayweather for the first time called for the fight to happen and even gave a date - May 2.

It is like sweet music for boxing fans who have been eagerly anticipating this bout to happen for the past five years.

This could be billed as the 'Fight of the Century' with reports suggesting it could be the first billion dollar fight in the history of boxing.

A UAE Investment Group has already thrown its hat into the ring offering a combined total purse of $200 million for the mega fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao to take place in Abu Dhabi.

President and Chief Operating Officer of Akbar Productions, LLC of New Jersey, USA, M Akbar Muhammad had offered Mayweather $110 million out of a record-setting total purse of almost $200 million to fight Pacquiao in Abu Dhabi.

According to BoxingScene.com website, M. Akbar Muhammad said: “The Abu Dhabi group … is ready, willing and able to fund to the extent necessary to turn the theory of a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight into reality.”

The on-again off-again fight for the mythical crown of 'best pound-for-fighter' of the world was stalled earlier because Mayweather insisted Paquiao undergo random blood testing while the Filipino superstar was not happy to accept only the purse money of $40 million on another occasion.

Mayweather warned Pacquiao not to expect to get anywhere near the money that he himself would make.

He said: "We tried to make the fight happen before and you guys didn't want to take random blood and urine testing so that's why the fight didn't happen. Then I offered you $40 million and then you didn't want to make the fight happen.

"You lost twice now and you are coming back begging for the same money. That is not going to happen."

He claimed it was Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum, who has been the main obstacle for not making the fight happen.

"Floyd Mayweather is not ducking or dodging any opponent," Mayweather said. "Bob Arum is stopping the fight. We have been trying to make this fight happen for many years behind the scene."

"We want the fight, we are ready," Mayweather said. "Let's make it happen on May 2. Mayweather versus Manny Pacquiao. Let's do it.

"I am not ducking or dodging any opponent. Bob Arum is stopping the fight.

"I wanted that fight a long time ago and I am just waiting on them."

Pacquiao turned the pressure up on Mayweather to make the fight last month, saying the time had come to put on the much anticipated bout.

"I really want the fight. The fans deserve it," said Pacquiao after demolishiing American Chris Algieri to retain his World Boxing Organisation welterweight title last month.

Arum said he had also been in talks with CBS Corp. chairman Les Moonves about the fight.

CBS operates Showtime, which has Mayweather under contract for two more fights in May and September.

Mayweather, who has a perfect record of 47-0, said he was confident he could beat Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 KOs) and eager to take the lead role in an extremely lucrative fight.

"I know that he's not on my level," Mayweather said. "The fan would love to see the fight. And, of course, I want to go out with a bang."

Critics of Mayweather have accused him of ducking the 35-year-old Pacquiao for years, saying that his lopsided money demands were just a way to scuttle talks.

But on Friday he was singing a different tune, calling out his rival and insisting it was Pacquiao who is ducking him not the other way around.

"Let's make this fight happen. Bob Arum and Manny Pacquiao you guys have been ducking us for years.

"We are tired of you guys fooling the public, fooling the critics."

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