Showtime chief: Mayweather will fight Pacquiao 'anywhere, anytime'

Floyd Mayweather Jnr is willing to fight rival Manny Pacquiao "anywhere, anytime", claims the head of Showtime Sports.

Talks over the fight boxing fans have wanted for the best part of four years reached an impasse in 2012, with neither man willing to compromise on their demands.

While Mayweather requested Olympic-style drug testing, Pacquiao demanded a 50-50 split of the fight purse - estimated to be the biggest in boxing history at over $200million. Mayweather instead offered the Filipino a $40m one-off payment,.

Interest in the bout intensified again this past week after Mayweather tweeted a number of unflattering pictures of Pacquiao, referring to him as Juan Manuel Marquez's "leftovers".

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However, Stephen Espinoza, Showtime Executive Vice President, has dismissed suggestions the fight could be back on for 2014.

“I know Floyd is not the issue,” said Espinoza. “Floyd wants the fight. Floyd will fight Manny Pacquiao anywhere, any time. Unfortunately, there is a promotional conflict which are the issue.

“I’d like to say I’m optimistic but there is a lot of politics involved. A lot of history to resolve. Unfortunately, until Manny Pacquiao changes his promotional representation, I’m not optimistic that it can happen."

Meanwhile, Mayweather will meet Showtime executives over the next week to discuss potential opponents for his next fight on May 3, 2014.

British boxer Amir Khan is one of those "under consideration" after publicly declaring his interest in the bout while Argentine Marcos Maidana is another option.

“Khan is definitely one of the leading contenders for the fight,” Espinoza told The Telegraph. “I know Amir wants the fight. Floyd hasn’t made a decision. I expect an announcement by mid-January or the end of January.

“It is still wide open. Floyd has not made a decision yet about who he is going to fight on May 3. Obviously, Marcos Maidana is making a late case and a strong argument for the fight, but Amir is definitely there in the conversation.”

Mayweather is two fights into a ground-break six-bout deal with TV giants Showtime worth a reported $250m - the biggest in boxing history.