Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Middleweight boxing legend ‘Marvelous’ Marvin Hagler believes a long-awaited bout between Filipino icon Manny Pacquiao and the world’s best pound-for-pounder fighter Floyd Mayweather Junior will sadly never happen.

Hagler also questioned the 35-year-old Pacquiao’s ability to overcome the man known as ‘Pretty Boy’, following his 2012 defeats to unbeaten WBO welterweight champion Timothy Bradley — whom he fights again in Las Vegas from 8am UAE time on Sunday — and Juan Manuel Marquez.

The 59-year-old also suggested Mayweather could be accused of running scared of Pacquaio and Britain’s Amir Khan, whose offer of a fight he reportedly rejected in favour of taking on Marcos Maidana on May 3.

Of any hope of a dream fight materialising, Hagler, who retired in 1987 after a sparkling career in which he won 62, drew two and lost three of his 67 bouts, said: “I think Mayweather in a couple more fights might even retire because there is no one else out there. Pacquiao would have been an excellent fight, but I think that has gone out the window because it won’t have the interest it had [after Pacquiao lost to Timothy Bradley — controversially — and Juan Manuel Marquez in two of his last three fights]. We don’t know if he [Pacquiao] really has it anymore.”

“That might have been the biggest fight in boxing history,” he added. “Maybe they would have pulled in $100 million [Dh367 million in TV revenue].

“In the beginning, I had it as an even fight. I didn’t see Mayweather walking away with it. I thought it was going to be a tough fight.”

Hagler played an integral part in a golden era for boxing in the 1980s, featuring in some of the most memorable and occasionally brutal bouts of all time with fellow middleweight icons Thomas Hearns, Roberto Duran and Sugar Ray Leonard.

Yet he feels Mayweather has not cemented his legacy in similar fashion by failing to take on Pacquiao.

Hagler, who was speaking at the recent Laureus World Sport Awards in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, said: “I believe the best way is to fight the top [boxers] and the way my career led me was fighting the best, so this way you feel good about yourself when you have finished because you know you did not duck anyone. You gave everyone an opportunity.

“With Mayweather, we have got to see if he retires and he hasn’t given Pacquiao a shot or given Khan a shot. There will be a conversation that maybe he was afraid of them.”

Hagler also fears there are no up-and-coming young talents capable of replacing Mayweather and Pacquiao when the two stars hang up their gloves.

“I don’t think we’ll find another superstar soon,” Hagler said. “Maybe in another ten years, but ultimately we will because boxing will never die.”

The American went on to attribute the dearth of superstars in the sport compared to his generation and the 1970s to their lack of hunger in a sport awash with cash.

“I believe that even though the fighters now are not as great as the fighters back in the 70s, they work just as hard, they put in their time,” he said.

“Now the whole thing is that there’s more money now. That changed the sport because these guys are not as hungry as before.

“And now the fighters are not dictated to fight the best challengers because they can make good money fighting other guys.”