MANILA, Philippines – Richard Schaefer, chief executive officer (CEO) of Golden Boy Promotions (GBP), defended unbeaten and outspoken boxer Floyd Mayweather Jr. amid claims that he’s ducking Filipino superstar Manny Pacquiao.

The GBP executive claimed in a blog by Ring Magazine’s Michael Rosenthal that Mayweather is currently preoccupied with his legal case, which involves his reported assault of his former girlfriend.

This, he said, puts Mayweather in no position to pursue a multi-million dollar super fight with current pound-for-pound champion Pacquiao.

“People should be smart enough to realize that he’s in the middle of legal proceedings. His focus and energy is on that, clearing his name, not on making a fight. That’s just common sense,” said Schaefer.

“Anything else would be disrespectful to a judge or the legal system… He could say, OK, let’s fight Pacquiao in May or whenever and make a deal. How would a judge feel about that? You just don’t do that,” he added.

GBP handles the promotion of Mayweather’s fights. It has tried to work out a deal with Bob Arum’s Top Rank promotions for a “Fight of the Century” with Pacquiao.

However, efforts to make the deal fell through after Mayweather demanded an Olympic-style drug testing, which is unusual in professional boxing.

Pacquiao eventually agreed to blood testing during the second round of talks, but Mayweather’s camp had denied there were negotiations.

Losing the ‘0’

Schaefer also branded as “silly” the claims made by several people in the boxing community that the undefeated Mayweather is simply afraid of getting beaten, especially by Pacquiao.

“These comments that he wants to protect his ‘0’ [loss] are silly,” Schaefer said. “He fought [Oscar] dela Hoya when he was still in his prime. He fought Shane Mosley when everyone thought it would be a hard fight. He fought [Juan Manuel] Marquez.

“And, no, he hasn’t just fought small guys. Dela Hoya and Mosley were both bigger than he was. The fact is, he hasn’t ducked anyone,” claimed Schaefer.

The GBP executive said Mayweather will eventually come out and fight.

He claims that “Pretty Boy Floyd” is just waiting for the right time.

"I can assure you," said Schaefer, "that when the time is right, he'll fight Pacquiao and beat Pacquiao."

Pacquiao, who has overtaken Mayweather in the pound-for-pound ranking, recently defeated "Tijuana Tornado" Antonio Margarito for his 8th world title, the World Boxing Council (WBC) super welterweight crown.

The Filipino champion won despite giving away the size and reach advantage to the heftier Mexican boxer.