The boxing world is waiting on Floyd Mayweather Jr to make up his mind on who he will fight next – and his decision will have far reaching repercussions.
A series of deals for fights hinge on what boxing’s pound-for-pound king decides to do next, which will be revealed in the next week.
The American, 38 next month, has been in talks with Pacquiao’s team about securing the fight boxing has been waiting six years for? a showdown with Manny Pacquaio, 36, that will make over $200 million (?130m).
If a deal for the biggest fight boxing has seen since the 80s is close, it is thought Filipino Pacquiao will wait beyond his deadline of Saturday, January 31 so the showdown gets made.
It is not the first time boxing’s power brokers have tried to make the super fight between boxers who have won multiple world title belts (Mayweather has won world titles in five weight divisions; Pacquiao has won world titles in six weight divisions). Previously, differences over drug testing and promoters have stopped it from happening but Mayweather’s representatives are now trying to clear all obstacles to make the showdown to decide boxing’s pound-for-pound No.1.
The pair have already agreed on a 60-40 purse split in favour of Mayweather for them to meet at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on May 2, with a drugs testing schedule also in place. Rival US TV broadcasters are working on a deal to screen the fight but contracts have yet to be drawn up.
Most boxing fans worldwide want Mayweather-Pacquiao to happen above any other fight this year.
But if unbeaten Mayweather decides to collapse attempts to make the fight then he will instead face Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in a rematch on May 2.
By fighting Cotto, Pac Man will need another opponent and his promoter Bob Arum has already lined up Bolton’s former world light-welterweight champion Amir Khan.
Pacquiao and Khan, former sparring partners before the Briton left trainer Freddie Roach in 2012, had informal talks at an amateur boxing gym in London on Friday night.
Pacquiao would face Khan on May 30 – but not at Wembley since the London venue is hosting the FA Cup Final that day.
Only if the May 30 date – decided by US TV – can be put back to June will there be any chance of Khan taking on Pacquiao at Wembley.
American venues in Las Vegas and New York will be the favourites to host the proposed fight between Pacquiao and Khan on May 30, with other venues in Abu Dhabi and London also options.
If Pacquiao-Khan happens in May or June, it shatters the dream of Sheffield’s IBF champion Kell Brook of facing Khan, 28, at Wembley in June. Brook’s promoter Eddie Hearn had hoped to stage Brook-Khan at Wembley on June 13 and alternative opponents this summer for the Sheffield boxer, who makes a mandatory defence of his IBF belt against Canadian Jo Jo Dan on March 28, would be the likes of Americans Tim Bradley or Paulie Malignaggi.
But if Mayweather-Pacquiao does get signed off, a fight against Brook will be the biggest one on offer for Khan this summer.
Instead of fighting Mexican Saul Alvarez on May 2, Cotto has pulled out of talks to keep himself available should he get the call-up from Mayweather. Alvarez faces James Kirkland on May 2 while WBC middleweight champion Cotto faces being disappointed if Mayweather agrees to fight Pacquiao on the same May 2 date.
