Bob Arum Addresses Talk of Floyd Mayweather v Manny Pacquiao in Dubai

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has rubbished reports suggesting a United Arab Emirates prince will bankroll a showdown between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao in Dubai.

Mayweather's long-standing refusal to work with Top Rank or Arum following his acrimonious split with the promoter in 2006 has seen the prospect of a long awaited meeting between the two fighters remain hopeful at best.

However, reports last week emerged suggesting the President and Royal Family of the United Arab Emirates was prepared to make the dream fight a reality.

Prince Amir Shafipour, a businessman and fight promoter in the UAE, was reportedly given the green light to begin negotiations with both the Mayweather and Pacquiao camps in hope of striking what would likely be the most lucrative deal in boxing history.

But when quizzed on the rumours Pacquiao's promoter remained unconvinced.

"I don't know who this fellow is and he's never talked to me or anybody in the Pacquiao camp. But over the years, we have met more alleged princes from Dubai than there are princes from Dubai," Arum told ABS-CBM, before recalling an occasion when a man who introduced himself as a prince "started hanging out" with Pacquiao's business adviser Michael Koncz.

"But he was as much a prince as you are," he said. "The last guy says he was a prince from Dubai. Turned out he was born from Brooklyn, New York."

"It's a scam. I don't know about this fellow. Maybe he is honest, maybe he is not honest.

"If they're legitimate, why wouldn't we be willing to talk with them and negotiate with them? But I'm very, very sceptical."

At 35 and 37 respectively, the chances of Pacquiao and Mayweather squaring off have grown slimmer and slimmer since their proposed 2010 meeting fell by the wayside.

The Filipino fighter will next fight in November in Macau with a fifth meeting with Juan Manuel Marquez one possible option with Miguel Cotto also in the frame following his emphatic victory over Sergio Martinez.

After outpointing Marcos Maidana in Las Vegas in April, Mayweather has set his next fight date on 13 September against an opponent yet to be named.