If there?s a lesson that Bob Arum should learn from his past relationship with Floyd Mayweather, Jr., it is not to put the American fighter on the spot. If there?s a lesson that Bob Arum should learn from his past negotiations with Floyd Mayweather, Jr., it is not to give the Grand Rapids native a deadline.
We all know that with his humungous ego, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. does not want to be told, much more be imposed upon. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. wants to portray himself as the man who calls the shots and he wants to show the world that he is in control of the show from the very start. But make no mistake about it, Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will sign the contract if he thinks that he is in an advantageous position.
?Top Rank, Golden Boy Promotions and Team Mayweather should get their acts together and just make the damn fight. The fans are now very impatient with all the delays. Just give us what we want, make the Pacquiao- Mayweather mega fight. ?— DeShane S. of Detroit, MI
And history will tell us that there is no love lost between Bob Arum and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. And Floyd will not hesitate to stall and dilly- dally his way before signing the dotted line just to play his kind of game and put Bob Arum in a negative light. For that?s what Floyd Mayweather, Jr. is very good at, playing mind games, that is.
So, Bob Arum giving Floyd Mayweather, Jr. a deadline to sign the Manny Pacquiao fight is not a good thing from the negotiating point of view. And questions and intrigue will surely come out if ever the mega fight will not happen by November 13.
Bob Arum, by not sticking to the agreed gag order as well as by openly painting Floyd Mayweather, Jr. as the cause of the delay in the negotiations is trying to prick Floyd Mayweather, Jr. humungous ego.
Bob Arum, by openly challenging Floyd Mayweather, Jr. to sign the contract by mid-July is sabotaging the Manny Pacquiao- Floyd Mayweather, Jr. mega fight.
Bob Arum say: ?This really depends, as I see it, on whether Mayweather wants to fight (Pacquiao). By mid-July, he’s either in or out. We’re not going to wait forever. We’re going to have a fight on Nov. 13 and we would love it to be Mayweather.”
Surely, the loquacious Bob Arum with all his hyperboles will not help make the fight. He should save his words and energy after Floyd Mayweather, Jr. finally puts an ink to the fight contract. For now, Bob Arum should issue a gag order on himself if he is really keen on making this fight.
Making the Manny Pacquiao- Floyd Mayweather, Jr. megafight will be the best thing that Bob Arum could make for boxing in the twilight of his career as a boxing promoter. If ever Bob Arum can work this Pacquiao- Mayweather megafight into fruition, it will be a great addition to his already excellent matchmaking record and will surely cast a lasting legacy not only for himself but to boxing as well.
On the flipside and behind all the smokescreens, maybe Bob Arum is just using the Manny Pacquiao- Floyd Mayweather, Jr. negotiation impasse as a ploy to condition the mind of the boxing public and put his other fighters Antonio Margarito and Miguel Cotto in the Manny Pacquiao sweepstakes.
Say it ain?t so, Bob.
