Top Rank boxing promoter Bob Arum insists he won’t stand in the way of a mega fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr because the public want it so badly.

Pacquiao and Mayweather are considered the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world and could meet in 2010 to settle the score once and for all in what could be the richest fight in boxing history.

However Arum, who promotes Pacquiao and used to handle Mayweather prior to their bitter split in 2006, said if it was his choice the fight would not go ahead, but is willing to put his grievances to one side for the good of the sport, knowing it is the fight everyone wants to see.

Arum told Yahoo Sports: “The only reason I want this Mayweather fight is because the public wants it so badly.

“Boxing is on a real, real roll right now and I don't want to do anything to get it off that. But if that doesn't matter to him, OK, it doesn't matter to him. I have no problem.

“But I would feel I cheated the sport I've worked in for so long if I stood in the way of this fight happening. Because of that, I'll do everything in my power to try to make it happen. Do I really want this happening, though? Other than that, the answer is no.”

Arum believes that his relationship with Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer could help make the deal if Mayweather is in agreement

"Richard and I are business friends," he said. "We have a good relationship, if competitors can have a good relationship. I would describe as good the way we work with each other. Richard is a business guy and is a smart guy and we would have very, very few problems in negotiations.

"Once he's authorised, things will proceed. I'm not going to play Mayweather's games, though. I'm not going to let my fighter play Mayweather's games.

“If Mayweather wants to fight Pacquiao and make a lot of money, he can do so. But God love him, no-one is forcing him to fight and if he wants to play games or he doesn't want the fight, he can do what he wants.”

After Mayweather’s comfortable points victory over Juan Manuel Marquez and Pacquiao’s technical knockout of Miguel Cotto at the weekend, the only logical step is a super fight between the two greatest fighters in contemporary boxing.