MANILA, Philippines – There?s no way Manny Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum are ducking Floyd Mayweather Jr.
They are just making sure that the superfight, if it ever takes place, will be planned and staged the way it should be.
That means a 50-50 share of the purse between the two superstars, and that it takes place either late May or early June.
In Las Vegas of course.
?Right now there?s no development. Obviously we?re waiting to hear from the Mayweather people,? said Arum from the lounge of Makati Shangri-La.
?But we?re prepared to do the fight in May,? added the legendary promoter, contrary to reports that he?s the only one who doesn?t want the fight to happen.
Arum sat down with Pacquiao upon his arrival in Manila last Tuesday, and another meeting is scheduled tomorrow before the Top Rank chief flies home to Las Vegas.
Arum said he needs to talk to Pacquiao regarding the ?alternate opponent? just in case nothing comes out of the latest talks of the superfight taking place soon.
?It will be late in May,? added Arum.
?But the problem remains the same in that no one from Mayweather?s side would guarantee his purse,? added Arum, saying not even Golden Boy could guarantee Mayweather?s purse.
?I can only guarantee Manny?s purse, but if Floyd wants to make a deal with me then I?m open to that. I can guarantee his purse but I then I will have a share in his revenue,? Arum added.
?That?s why we need to hear from him (Mayweather),? he said.
Golden Boy has helped put up Mayweather?s last few fights, although on paper Oscar dela Hoya?s firm doesn?t have the promotional rights on the flamboyant boxer.
Mayweather has been all over the Twitter pages calling on Pacquiao to a fight on May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
He called Pacquiao a ?punk? and dared him to a fight. In his latest tweet yesterday he said, ?I?m ready to put my belt up. What about you Manny Pacquiao? Let?s make history.?
Pacquiao is not hooked on Twitter, and the last time he was on it was last Dec. 18 when he thanked all those who greeted him on his birthday the day before.
Pacquiao said he?s ready to fight Mayweather in May, but not at the MGM, not on the 5th because Arum thinks it?s not going to be a wise move.
Arum said instead of the 17,000-seat Grand Garden, they should hold the fight in a temporary arena that will be put up in one vacant lot along The Strip, one that can seat more than 40,000 people.
?It should be by the end of May in that special arena because we?re not going to leave $30 million behind in gate revenues,? said Pacquiao?s chief adviser, Mike Koncz.
?There?s no problem with me as long as it?s a 50/50 split,? said Pacquiao, dropping an earlier stand that he?s willing to get the smaller share of the purse with Mayweather.
The two fighters can make at least $50 million each for the fight, with additional revenues of another $100 million in pay-per-view, ticket sales, TV rights and merchandise.
It should be the biggest fight in boxing history, and Arum said he wants it to happen but at the proper time and the proper place.
Mayweather was supposed to go to jail last Jan. 6 and serve a 30-day sentence for a battery case in 2010, but the Las Vegas judge has suspended the term until June.
