MANILA, Philippines – Nothing new about Floyd Mayweather Jr. challenging Manny Pacquiao in front of 16,000-plus fans at the MGM Grand and the millions then watching from around the world.
He dared Pacquiao to take the drug test, asserted his right for a bigger share of the purse, and claimed Bob Arum is the reason why the super fight isn?t happening.
Pacquiao had already said he was willing to take the test, and that once he is promised a fair or even share of the huge purse, then it?s time to do business.
Mayweather hates Arum. So, he?s blaming him, too.
?The truth is, Bob Arum is not going to let the fight happen. It?s not on me,? Mayweather said following a hard-earned decision over Miguel Cotto.
?Nonsense,? the Top Rank chief told The STAR yesterday.
Arum said over the phone he couldn?t or never would understand what?s going through Mayweather?s mind regarding the Pacquiao fight.
?Over a week ago he was saying he doesn?t want to fight Manny. And on Saturday he was saying he wants the fight,? said Arum.
Mayweather said he doesn?t want to fight Pacquiao, whom he considered a ?health risk? as he renewed his suspicions that the Filipino champ is into PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs).
?It?s all nonsense, all nonsense. Obviously he doesn?t want the fight. So, how can you believe him now?? added Arum.
After beating Cotto, the undefeated Mayweather talked of the Pacquiao fight like he?s ready to do it right then, right there.
But he said Pacquiao should take the test like Cotto did. Mayweather said Pacquiao should be happy with the $40 million offer.
?I went to Pacquiao and I offered him $40 million. I called him direct and I offered him $40 million. He turned me down. He basically said 50/50,? said Mayweather.
He told Pacquiao he could wire him $20 million the next day, but the fighting congressman declined.
?How can you ask for 50/50 when he?s not doing the same numbers that I?m doing? If you go back and read the article, he said he would do it for less. It?s just been a problem trying to make this fight.?
Mayweather?s offer of $40 million meant that Pacquiao will no longer receive a single centavo from the pay-per-view sales which would run up to hundreds of millions of dollars.
For a Pacquiao-Mayweather, HBO can sell pay-per-view for a hundred bucks a pop, and people would still buy it. They sold Mayweather-Cotto at $59.95 a hit.
Arum said he watched Mayweather-Cotto. He liked what he saw.
?The big thing there is that Mayweather has slowed down,? he said the 35-year-old boxer, who?s about to serve a 90-day jail term for domestic violence.
Mayweather slugged it out with Cotto against the ropes, and some experts thought it?s because he couldn?t move out of it as quick as he used to.
Mayweather said it was by choice because he wanted to give the fans a good fight.
?No,? Arum said.
?He doesn?t want to fight a southpaw. He doesn?t want to fight Pacquiao.?
