There are at least two, new developments concerning the March 13, Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao megafight.
Pacquiao’s promoter, Top Rank’s Bob Arum, will give his fighter a larger guaranteed purse than originally agreed upon, and Arum has been contacted by The Atlanta Falcons’ Georgia Dome regarding the potential for being a site for the bout.
The Filipino icon’s adviser, Michael Koncz, told FanHouse on Monday that Arum has sweetened the deal for Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts), who earned his unprecedented seventh world title in as many weight classes with his 12th-round, technical knockout victory over then-WBO welterweight (147 pounds) champ Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14.
“Arum presented a package to us, and we did some minor modifications to it. One of the points that we brought up was the guaranteed purse,” said Koncz, referring to their interaction during a two-hour meeting involving Pacquaio, Arum and himself, late last week.
“Bob came to us with an offer, we countered it, and we got what we requested,” said Koncz. “That [purse] was the major one, and there were some minor issues — not so much revolving around money, but with other aspects of the fight.”
Although there are reports that the combatants agreed to a 50-50 split, and that Pacquiao, at least, was originally guaranteed $20 million — plus their shares of any upside to to the pay per view revenue — Koncz said that a gag order is in place for both sides and that, under the circumstances, it would be inappropriate to address any numbers.
There are also reports that Mayweather has been guaranteed at least $20 million, that his name will lead the promotion as, “Mayweather-Pacquiao,” and that the revenue could push each side’s earnings toward the $45 million mark.
“The only ones who know the figures are Manny, myself, Bob Arum, [Golden Boy Promotions’] Richad Schaefer and Floyd Mayweather. So there are other figures floating around out there that may or not be accurate,” said Koncz, referring to Schaefer, who is representing Mayweather’s side.
“In relation to any figures, I will not substantiate them,” said Koncz. “There are gag orders in place, and I don’t think that it’s appropriate that any deals or negotiations should be negotiated in the press.”
During Pacquiao’s Q&A with FanHouse last week, Koncz said that Pacquiao has not yet signed a contract, but that the fighter had agreed to the terms of a clash with Mayweather on March 13, with each fighter being able to choose his own brand of eight ounce gloves, and at the welterweight (147-pound) category rather than at catchweight.
