Promoter Bob Arum says he doesn’t think the big fight will be in 2010.
Promoter Bob Arum recently said that a Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather, Jr. mega fight won’t happen in 2010. Arum says it’s all because dealing with Mayweather is too difficult an ordeal.
Arum told Mike Rosenthal of The Ring his thoughts on the difficulty of making a proposed Pacquiao – Mayweather, Jr.
Here are my five reasons and some other thoughts as to why this fight must happen in 2010.
1. Pacquiao is the world’s best and most popular fighter today and for the last two years. He needs to be respected rather than being forced to stay busy and sharp by taking additional useless tuneup fights for a fight that might not ever happen.
2. We know what Mayweather thinks about being a sportsman and obeying the rules after what he and his negotiator, Golden Boy, did regarding Mayweather’s weight against Juan Manuel Marquez.
3. Mayweather can simply grow bigger naturally or just be a flake and decide not to take the fight at any date, weight, or price.
4. Somebody could blow the whole deal by landing a lucky punch against either fighter in a tuneup while we wait.
5. Who else out there will the public buy as a Mayweather opponent?
The fight should be made now because nothing is going to be different a year from now except any of the five reasons I have stated. They are all bad for the fight ever happening.
Experience tells me that being difficult is merely Mayweather’s way of getting financial concessions in the negotiations. It sure is boorish to the world’s boxing fans though.
In my opinion I honestly believe the fight will be made in 2010 because I have noticed through promoter Arum that the negotiating is almost exclusively through the media; as all the fights to set up the big fight have been fought except the upcoming Pacquiao – Cotto.
Arum has recently been more direct in his public insults toward Mayweather. Comments such as: any number of fighters could beat Mayweather; and that maybe Shane Mosley vs. the Pacquiao – Cotto winner makes sense before a Mayweather fight. And that Mayweather is delusional if he thinks he’s getting 60% of the purse against Pacquiao.
These comments are meant to put a fear into Mayweather and embarrass him so that he will knock off the cockiness and start negotiating within reason. It is also to get the media on Arum’s side.
At some point you must ask yourself, who does Arum hate more: Mayweather or Golden Boy?
The answer determines when the fight gets made.
