The long-awaited meeting between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao finally took place ? kind of.
The two fighters had an impromptu get-together at halftime of the Heat-Bucks game Tuesday night in Miami, giving hope that the bout that everybody has been hoping to see for years might actually happen.
The two chatted amicably, with Mayweather seemingly doing most of the talking and Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz standing between them. The boxers then embraced before heading back to their courtside seats on opposite sides.
Pacquiao said Mayweather gave him his cell-phone number and told him they needed to talk to ensure that a fight happens. Pacquiao added it was the first time he had ever spoken with Mayweather.
?I?m not at liberty to say what they said, but it was a good conversation,? Koncz told Yahoo! Sports.
The scene was not lost on the crowd that came to see basketball. During the first quarter, the Miami scoreboard flashed images of both boxers with the message: ?Coming in 2015??
For those reading the tea leaves, it might have been the most compelling evidence the boxers are working toward making a fight happen ? perhaps on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Asked if the fight could finally happen on that date, Pacquiao nodded and said ?yes.?
Mayweather and Pacquiao sealed the deal. Shook on it. Exchanged phones and typed in each others’ numbers. pic.twitter.com/A1Fv18xQXj ? Grant Smith (@StrategySmith) January 28, 2015
Negotiations are ongoing between the two sides, with Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum stating that his fighter has agreed to all the terms of the fight, including a 60-40 split, with Mayweather getting the larger share.
All that?s missing is for Mayweather to endorse the deal, Arum has said.
Mayweather left his seat at halftime and walked to Pacquiao?s side to initiate Tuesday?s meeting.
Heat beat reporter Ira Winderman tweeted that ?Mayweather said it was important to get with Pacquiao to eliminate ?the lies? that have been out there.?
Mayweather then walked back to his seat, surrounded by a large security detail.
Mayweather is a big NBA fan who attends Heat games frequently while Pacquiao is friends with Heat coach Erik Spoelstra.
