Look – I’m as sick of all the reports on the May-Pac negotiations as anyone. So after this I will make a concerted effort to avoid writing articles on the topic until something substantial materializes.
Bob Arum isn’t thrilled with the pace that the negotiations for May-Pac are progressing. But being that this is the same guy who said they’ve agreed and signed off on everything just a few weeks ago, then only to say that there were still things being negotiated, I’ll take everything he says with — well not a grain of salt — but more like the world’s largest salt mine.
“Nobody’s listening to anybody. I have no idea what’s going to happen,” said Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter. “I’ve never been through a situation as crazy as this. I’m tired of it. I’ve negotiated for 50 years and I’ve never been through some s-t like this.”
“It’s only going to get settled at Moonves’ level,” said Arum, “because otherwise, it will just break up and everybody will just walk away and everybody will blame everybody and all of that s-t. That’s how I see it now.”
So, pretty much the same as it’s always been. Despite all the negativity, I still think the fight gets made and while some scoffed at that idea by saying “why would it be made now after all these years?” I’ve always maintained that now that the talks of the fight are so widespread and close, both sides will certainly take a big hit in public perception if the fight doesn’t get made. Sure we’ve all been disappointed in the past when the fight fell through, but at this point (past ad nauseam) I think there is a thin line between disappointment and complete disdain for all those involved. Complete disdain hurts the marketability of both fighters. In any event, Arum added his last thoughts:
“It is craziness. It is just crazy,” said Arum. “If you knew what was going on, you would know how bizarre it is. But maybe you go through this bizarre-ness before you cross the goal line. I have nothing else to say except that it’s not over until it’s over.”
One thing is for certain, Bob having ‘nothing else to say’ isn’t even remotely in the realm of possibility.
