Manny Pacquiao is echoing an earlier statement made by his camp saying that he’s giving Floyd Mayweather Jr. until the end of January to decide if he wants to take up the fight against him. Pacquiao, who is in the United States for some promotional activities, told the Los Angeles Times of the deadline and emphasised that he has already agreed with Mayweather’s demands and just waiting for the undefeated American.

“My promoter and I, we’ve already agreed to the terms and conditions of whatever he wants. We’re just waiting on the signed contract from him,” Pacquiao said in an interview with Lance Pugmire, a reporter for the L.A. Times. “That’s the hard part – if they will fight or not. We have to know soon, because if they will not fight, we can move on and choose another opponent. We have a deadline … this month.”

In the same interview, Pacquiao promoted his new documentary film, “Manny” narrated by Hollywood star Liam Neeson, who has also voiced popular characters in “The Chronicles of Narnia” movies and “Star Wars: The Clone Wars” series. Pacquiao also said that he wants the fight to happen because of the fans.

“The fans deserve this fight. No more will people bother me, ‘Can this fight happen?’ It’s time to make it happen. We’re waiting on a signed contract from him,” Pacquiao said. “My job is a boxer – to know how much I get and prepare for a fight,. We just want to make that fight happen -- for the sake of the fans, for the sake of millions of people around the world who are excited to see that fight.”

Pacquiao admitted that he has no idea what Mayweather will eventually decide on but he sent a message to the American saying that if he wants to prove that he’s No. 1 he should fight and if Mayweather beats him he’ll be convinced that Mayweather is the top boxer in the world.

“Of course we are trying to make the fight happen between me and Pacquiao. Are we negotiating? Absolutely we are negotiating. But Pacquiao said that he agreed to everything. What did you agree to? You have no say so. You have a boss... that's called Top Rank Promotions. It's not called Pacquiao Promotions. With my company, it's called Mayweather Promotions,” Mayweather said in a recent interview with Shade 45 Radio. “We're going to make it happen though. We're trying, but it's been extremely difficult dealing with Top Rank. And I don't want to sit here and point the finger at Pacquiao and say 'it's him.' It's not Pacquiao, it's his promoter. A lot of times when Pacquiao says 'I agreed' - you don't have nothing to do with this, you're not a boss. On a chess board you're a pawn.”

Mayweather has consistently said that he’s willing to fight Pacquiao and wanted to fight on May 2, 2015. However, there are reports that Mayweather is in negotiations with Miguel Cotto, who failed to agree on a fight with Canelo Alvarez for that Cinco de Mayo week fight date. If the Mayweather fight isn’t finalised this January, the Pacquiao camp is willing to move on and choose their next opponent for 2015.

Email j.gloria@IBTimes.com.au to contact author of this article.

RELATED STORIES