Grandly calling himself “the biggest fighter in the sport,” Floyd Mayweather Jr. said Tuesday that he will “never fight” Manny Pacquiao because of what he called the “greed” of promoter Bob Arum.
Arum used to be Mayweather’s promoter and there is no love lost between the two Las Vegas residents.
Speaking on an international media conference to hype his Sept. 19 comeback bout against Pacman nemesis Juan Manuel Marquez, Mayweather said the Pacman side, or at least Arum, wants too much of the revenue from such a super bout.
Asked if “the biggest fight” that can possibly be made is Mayweather-Pacquiao, Mayweather laughed.
“The biggest fight in boxing is Mayweather against anybody,” Mayweather said.
“Arum had a chance to make the fight,” Mayweather said. “He wants 50-50. He knows that is never going to happen. If Bob Arum didn’t want to be so greedy, it would happen. If Pacquiao really wants to fight me, he just has to say it.”
Mayweather also took a verbal poke at Miguel Cotto, saying he and Pacquiao,”it’s like a T-bone steak, they fight my leftovers.”
Mayweather claims an even-steven split is not a reality because “while it’s a sport, it’s also a business.”
Mayweather also took another somewhat oblique shot at Arum, head of Top Rank, in a reference to how the company was subjected to a lengthy FBI investigation which resulted in no charges being brought.
“Congratulations,” Mayweather said sarcastically, “you didn’t go to the pen.”
Mayweather called Pacquiao “a good fighter” and said “I can’t say nothing bad about him.”
Of course, Mayweather then said that if he had been able to use eight ounce gloves against Ricky Hatton instead of 10 ounce ones, he would have also “knocked Ricky Hatton out.
If Pacquiao wanted to fight me, I am not hard to find. He’s never called me out. He’s never said he wants to fight me.”
Mayweather remained mysterious about exactly how he suffered the rib injury which forced the postponement of the July 18 date for the Marquez bout. Pressed by several journalists, Mayweather would only say he was not hurt while sparring but in “a freak accident” while training.
Mayweather said he weighed 149 pounds and would have no trouble making the 147 pound limit for the Marquez fight. Mayweather was effusive in his praise of Arturo Gatti, who he stopped in six rounds. Gatti was found murdered Saturday at a seaside condo in Pernambuco, Brazil.
“(Trainer) Buddy McGirt wanted to stop our fight,” Mayweather said. “But Arturo kept saying no, don’t stop the fight. That’s a real warrior right there. It wasn’t a competitive fight but he was no quitter. He was a legend and a warrior. His fan base was crazy. They supported him even when he lost.”
Mayweather blasted Antonio Margarito and Sugar Shane Mosley as “cheaters, both of them.”
Mayweather contradicted himself, another personal habit, saying he pays no attention to critics but then went on to say media criticism fuels his rigorous training habits.
“Write what you want to write. I don’t pay any attention to that.”
Mayweather shook off questions about his IRS tax delinquency problems but did make reference to “my 50,000 square foot house” and “watching movies in my movie theater.”
Mayweather said Oscar De La Hoya’s mistake against Pacquaio was thinking he could just outmuscle the smaller Filipino.
