MANILA, Philippines - Top Rank chief executive officer Bob Arum believes that Juan Manuel Marquez is a bigger threat to Manny Pacquiao than Floyd Mayweather Jr.

Pacquiao is preparing for his third bout with Marquez on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). Mayweather has hinted that he will fight Pacquiao next year, but Arum said the American boxer is only seeking attention.

"In truth, tomorrow night, Marquez has great a danger for Manny than Floyd Mayweather would ever have," he said during an interview on CNN's "Piers Morgan Tonight" show on Friday (Saturday in Manila).

"Marquez has a style which gives Manny problems which hopefully Freddie (Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach) and Manny have worked with," he added.

Last month, Arum said Mayweather is scared of fighting Pacquiao because the Filipino boxing champ is capable of ending his undefeated streak.

Asked how much money they can make from promoting a Pacquiao-Mayweather fight if it ever happened, Arum said in jest, "If I can make that fight happen, then the US government might send me over to bring about peace in the mid-east because I got a guy in Mayweather who won't fight Manny Pacquiao."

"He (Mayweather) has two ways to go in the fight. He can fight Manny the way a couple of opponents have fought him, get hit, quit and go into his shell. Or fight him like Cotto and Margarito did, keep coming and get the hell beaten out of him.

"He has those two choices and those two choices only. And no money that anybody could come up with can make him step into the ring with Manny."

Pacquiao on beating Mayweather: It's hard to say

Pound-for-pound king Pacquiao said it is "hard to say" if he can beat Mayweather.

He was quick to add, however, that he is willing to fight Mayweather or any other fighter given to him by his promoter.

"It's hard to say. Of course he's (Mayweather) a boxer and I'm a boxer. Hard to say right now," the Filipino boxing champ said.

"I'm not [comparing] my record to anybody. I'm [just] happy that I'm one of [those people] giving excitement, an exciting fight to the fans of boxing."

Pacquiao is an eight-division world champion. The undefeated Mayweather, who had a controversial fourth-round victory over Victor Ortiz last September, is currently the World Boxing Council welterweight champion.

Asked if he is looking forward to fighting Mayweather, Pacquiao said, "I never... Right now, I'm not thinking of that."

Roach: Pacquiao will give Mayweather a fit

Unlike Pacquiao, trainer Freddie Roach is confident that his prized ward will be the first boxer to defeat Mayweather.

"I look at him sometimes and I say Mayweather averages 15 punches a round, and Manny averages 85 a round. Can an 85 guy lose to a 15? I don't think so," he reiterated.

"Thing is, Manny's accuracy and southpaw style will give Mayweather a fit," he added.

Roach also noted that Pacquiao "is perfect at this point."

"When he's in attack mode, he has perfect focus. He sees everything coming at him. It's one of the most important weapons that people don't realize. That's one of the best things about Manny Pacquiao," he explained.

"He's like a son to me. He was young when he first came to me. Now he's grown into a young man and now he makes his own decisions."

Roach earlier said that he wants Pacquiao to fight Mayweather after his bout with Marquez, then retire.

"I'd like to get Mayweather next, beat him and call it a day," Roach said in an interview with Boxing Scene.

"That'll be the icing on the cake."