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Source: abs-cbnnews.com

-- Newly-crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has finally proclaimed his desire to clash with former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Asked by Cher Calvin of KTLA-TV News in Los Angeles if he wants to fight Mayweather, Pacquiao replied: “For the record, ya.”

Pacquiao, who has so far compiled 50 wins against 3 losses, also said he's open to the idea of fighting Mayweather in a much bigger venue like the Giants or Yankee stadium.

This was his response to Mayweather’s that he hasn't been vocal about his desire to face “Pretty Boy Floyd”.

“Manny Pacquiao is the fighter and every time someone asks him if he wants to fight me, he says it is up to his promoter, he's going to take a vacation, whatever the answer is,” Mayweather earlier told USA Today.

“Manny Pacquiao doesn't say anything directly about fighting me because he might just know it's not a fight he can win,” said Mayweather, who remained undefeated in 40 fights.

Pacquiao is coming off a sensational win over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in Round 12 of their “Firepower” bout over the weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

The victory has made him the first boxer to win seven titles in seven different weight classes. He is also the first to win the World Boxing Council diamond belt.

Mayweather, on the other hand, won his comeback fight against bitter Pacquiao rival Juan Manuel Marquez via unanimous decision in September. "Pretty Boy Floyd" came out of retirement in May after spending almost a year's hiatus from boxing.

Negotiations for the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout were reportedly set to take place “next week.”

Fans and critics have been saying that the fight between the world’s top two pound-for-pound kings will certainly be a blockbuster. Pacquiao is No. 1 while Mayweather is No. 2 in the Ring Magazine pound-for-pound rankings list.

It has been estimated that the Pacquiao-Mayweather clash could generate pay-per-view revenues of more than $120 million, added Calvin.

Fight purse

Meanwhile, estimates of Pacquiao’s earnings from his recent fight against Cotto have been varied.

Early reports stated that Pacquiao has a guaranteed fight purse of $13 million. Boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz, however, said such reports are wrong.

“Manny will make $7 million from the fight purse alone,” Nathanielsz told ABS-CBN News, based on what he found out from the Nevada Athletic Commission.

The boxing analyst said Pacquiao is expected to gain more millions when he gets his share from the pay-per-view earnings.

“Bob Arum estimates the pay-per-view to make about $1.2- to $1.5-million buys. So when you get that, you multiply that with $50 per buy and take away the expenses and shares of HBO and Top Rank [Promotions], Manny may still get another $12 million from that,” added Nathanielsz.

The estimated $18 million to $20 million revenue will also tapered down because of taxes and trainers' fees.

Nathanielsz thinks Pacquiao stands to receive $7 million or more than P300 million worth of net earnings.