A fight analyst said cable giant Home Box Office (HBO) is favoring Floyd Mayweather Jr. over Manny Pacquiao as both fighters edge closer to a possible bout late this year.

Ben Thompson of FightHype.com said HBO appears to favor Mayweather over Pacquiao despite the Filipino’s status as the world's top pound-for-pound boxer.

“If Mayweather didn't have the edge, why would HBO bother to pay him $15 million to face Marquez, who already lost to reigning pound-for-pound champion Manny Pacquiao?” Thompson said in his article.

Compared to Mayweather, Pacquiao “only” received a $12 million fight purse in facing UK’s Ricky Hatton.

Thompson admitted that the Filipino superstar is the more thrilling fighter compared to the former pound-for-pound star.

“Truth to be told, since he burst into the scene pretty much of all of Pacquiao's fights have been far more entertaining than Mayweather's bouts, and yet, it's Mayweather that HBO appears to favor,” he said.

Both Pacquiao and Mayweather have beaten Hatton and Oscar de la Hoya. Their successes, however, have contrasting endings.

While Mayweather defeated Hatton and De la Hoya, Pacquiao has demolished the two fighters in much quicker fashions.

For Thompson, there is a reason why HBO is favoring more of Mayweather than Pacquiao.

“Mayweather has that ‘it’ factor. Mayweather is cocky, loud-mouthed and arrogant," he said.

On the other hand, Pacquiao is humble and polite in all his interviews.

“He doesn't trash talk his opponents, opting to let his fists and his actions speak louder than his words,” said Thompson.

He said that from a financial point of view, HBO has found the trash-talking former champion as a “more marketable” fighter.

“Obnoxious as he may seem, it's that kind of attitude that HBO has chosen to put their money behind,” he said.

Arum: No Pacman-Floyd fight this year

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum is still pushing for Miguel Cotto or Shane Mosley as Pacquiao’s opponent on October 17.

Arum said he doesn’t believe that Mayweather will be available by then.

“I think Mayweather would not really be available this year,” Arum told boxingscene.com, referring to the undefeated American who will climb the ring on July 17 against Juan Manuel Marquez, the counter-puncher from Mexico.

Assuming that he wins that fight, as fight fans see him doing, it may be too difficult for Mayweather to fight Pacquiao three months after, even if he rests for a month and trains for two months.

It may be possible, but Arum doesn’t think Mayweather would do it.

“Because he’s Mayweather,” the Top Rank chief told Robert Morales of boxingscene.com in a recent interview.

“And obviously we’re not going to wait until after the Marquez fight. There have been no discussions whatsoever with the Mayweather people at this particular point and as far as I know nobody is pushing the Mayweather fight,” said Arum.

Arum went on to say that the final decision comes from Pacquiao, and his trainer, Freddie Roach, regarding the next fight. With a report from The Philippine Star