Bob Arum is optimistic after the first meeting with Richard Schaefer regarding a Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao fight in 2010. (Photo by Ethan Miller / Getty Images)

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Although everyone is keeping tight lips about the situation until a deal is done (meaning we might not get all that publicized purse split drama we had with Hatton-Pacquiao earlier this year), Bob Arum sounded optimistic about his first meeting with Richard Schaefer, regarding a 2010 mega money clash between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao.

Arum told Steve Carp of the Las Vegas Review Journal that it went well:

"There's really not much I can say," Arum said. "We had one meeting, it was a good meeting, and we'll talk again over the next few days."

Arum is also trying to make it as clear as possible that the only locations that will possibly happen have to have no taxes on the fighter purses. Again, that means New York and New Jersey are out, and it means that Louisiana would have to get that waived for one fight, and it means still that Los Angeles simply doesn't have the money. As it stands right now, that narrows it down to Vegas and Texas.

Public relations consultant Sig Rogich is working for Arum on that temporary, 30,000-seat stadium that could be built on a lot on the Strip for the fight, and says this is an instance where everyone in Vegas might band together to make sure they land the fight:

"The town needs it, and the promoters want it here," he said. "I think the casinos realize this is one of those united-we-stand, divided-we-fall moments, and I believe they will work together to bring the fight to Las Vegas."

So Vegas is looking like the frontrunner, with Dallas and Jerry Jones in second, and New Orleans a deep darkhorse.