Top Rank's Bob Arum has confirmed that he is looking to line up a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Timothy Bradley on June 9.
Both fighters are promoted by Top Rank which should help push negotiations on with Arum hopeful that they can offer the right financial terms to persuade Pacquiao to put his WBO welterweight title on the line against Bradley, who is undefeated after 28 fights.
The way was also paved clear for Pacquiao to go head-to-head with Bradley at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas because the Filipino's desired opponent Floyd Mayweather Jr ruled out any immediate fight by agreeing to face Miguel Cotto on May 5.
And Arum, who hopes to complete a deal on February 18 when Pacquiao will be in Vegas to attend a 70th birthday celebration for Muhammad Ali, told USA Today: "I'm very optimistic I'll get it done, but right now it's just not done."
He added: "I can plan to do the (press) tour with Manny and Bradley right after the 18th because I don't want Manny to come over here for (the Ali celebration) and then go back and bring him over again.
"It's a long trip so I'd like to knock it off while he's here. My goal is to get the thing done in the next few days."