In a heartbreak for boxing fans, the much-awaited “Fight of the Century”, the keenly anticipated Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr. mega bout, would not happen this year as the deadline set by Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum for Mayweather Jr. to sign the contract passed without a deal. We should take that as the final signal and get over our obsession with the Pacquiao vs Mayweather fight.
Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum confirmed yesterday that Mayweather missed a deadline given by him to ink a deal for the fight and now Pacquiao will begin negotiations with other potential opponents. Arum however, added that Mayweather has another 10 days or so to make a final decision. “We now have to go out and secure an opponent for Manny Pacquiao assuming it wont be Floyd. In the interim, while this was going on, if Floyd suddenly emerged and said he wanted to do the fight, there would be nothing opposed to getting together and doing the fight,” noted Arum.
“The deal is dead when we reach a deal with an opponent for Mannys fight in November. Then we are contractually bound to do that fight and we would look hopefully to do a fight with Floyd next year. That is the fight that we want more than all others. There is no question about it,” he added.
The hopes for a mega fight were rekindled when Pacquiao, the reigning World Boxing Organization welterweight champion, agreed to blood test terms as demanded by the Mayweather camp. Arum said that Mayweather’s uncle and trainer, Roger Mayweather, is facing criminal charges and it could be one of the reason why the still undefeated American boxer had not replied to the deadline. “Floyd, for whatever reason, didnt want to commit. I’m sure there is a very good reason,” explained Arum.
