Although a caveat has been left for a change of heart from Mayweather, it looks as if the American does not want to face the Filipino.
Not with the deal on the table. Since he earned $40 million in his last contest in May, Mayweather is believed to be looking for a 60-40 split of the earnings. It could take months to agree the deal.
The Mayweather camp did not respond to Arum’s midnight cut-off in the US on Friday night for the November 13 showdown in Las Vegas.
HBO executive Ross Greenburg has been broking the contest in discussion with Al Haymon, Mayweather?s adviser, and Arum, for Pacquiao.
“Floyd for whatever reason, and I’m sure he’s got some valid reason, did not want to commit,” said Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, in a news conference by telephone on Saturday morning UK time.
The Top Rank CEO indicated he did not speak directly to Mayweather but rather through a mediator ? Greenburg.
Pacquiao, who recently became a congressman in the Philippines, intends to fight in November, and it appears he will now fight either Miguel Cotto, whom he has already beaten, or Antonio Margarito.
Cotto is now a light-middleweight world champion, which would mean Pacquiao
The newest development in the on-off saga follows Pacquiao refusing to submit to random blood tests within 30 days prior to a proposed fight date with Mayweather. Arum, though, says that hurdle has been crossed
“I’m not going to go into specifics, but I think that issue was resolved,” Arum said in regards to blood testing. “Not as clear cut as [a two-week window prior to the fight], but I believe it was resolved. “
After the previous negotiations fell through, the fighters opted to face other opponents ? Pacquiao (51-3-2) defeating Ghanaian Joshua Clottey in a unanimous decision in March, and Mayweather (41-0) doing the same to Shane Mosley in May.
Arum added a door will be left open to Mayweather to come forward and accept boxing?s greatest potential duel, which would gross in excess of $200 million
