It took just minutes after Floyd Mayweather Jr had scored a dominant win over Argentine Marcos Maidana late Saturday before the undefeated welterweight champion faced the inevitable question.

Will Manny Pacquiao be his next opponent?

Still in the ring, still covered in sweat, Mayweather had barely time to catch his breath following a bruising 12-round battle with the hard-hitting Argentine when he was asked about the fight that has fascinated and obsessed the boxing world.

Mayweather’s unanimous decision over Maidana that improved his perfect record to 47-0, immediately renewed speculation about a long-awaited super-fight between the 37-year-old American and the Filipino great.

“I got to go back and talk to my team, I’m not ducking or dodging no opponent,” Mayweather said from the ring.

“If a Pacquiao fight presents itself, let’s make it happen.”

A duel between the defence-minded Mayweather and the aggressive Pacquiao, the biggest drawcards of their generation, has long been savoured by boxing fans, if only to decide the mythical title of the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter.