Once more it appears that a fight between pound for pound stalwarts Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather is still a long way away from ever happening.
Speaking to MPBoxing recently, Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum revealed that there had in fact been recent secret talks regarding a Pacquiao vs. Mayweather showdown, and that once again, it looks as if the sides were unable to agree to terms.
The problem this time however wasn’t down to drug testing issues or Top Rank and Golden Boy’s constant squabbling as with previous attempts, but Mayweather’s demands over money.
“We went through a negotiation that nobody really knew about with Mayweather. Some group came in wanting to put it in a particular country and Mayweather asked for a number that was so high, that he indicated that he didn’t want to fight.”
“Take a guess at the number he asked for himself. 100, that’s it. 100 million just for himself. F***, who’s going to pay him 100 million? I mean, unless Manny fights for nothing how can you do the fight?”
(See the whole Arum interview here, the Mayweather talks begin at about 12 minutes in)
Optimistic estimates before the first round of negotiations between the pair speculated that both fighters could make close to $50 million each if their fight exceeded previous pay per view records.
Photos: Manny Pacquiao, Amir Khan train in Baguio city
Asking for $100 million for himself either indicates that Mayweather is grossly overvaluing himself or that he really isn’t interested in making the fight happen.
Outside of the fight possibly being hosted by ridiculously wealthy backers, Floyd knows that he isn’t going to be given a hundred million by any of the involved parties.
Just who the involved parties would be is another question.
Seemingly Arum discussed the terms with Floyd and his own people, but who his co-promoter would be remains a mystery for the time being.
In the past Mayweather has worked with Golden Boy but given the escalation of the feud between the Oscar De La Hoya owned company and Top Rank, due in large part to the former signing Nonito Donaire earlier this week, it seems unlikely that they would have been involved in any discussions.
Don King is the other main possibility, and one who Arum implies was involved with the latest negotiations, but despite frequently socializing with the shock haired showman, Mayweather has shown little interest in signing with him in the past.
Which begs the question of why Mayweather would bother to take part in any negotiations anyway.
If he isn’t interested in fighting Pacquiao, surely the easiest thing to do would have been to stay with the drug testing line, or even feign loyalty with Golden Boy, who Arum and co have an extremely strained relationship with and haven’t worked with for several years.
Also assuming that the 50/50 purse split agreed to in previous negotiations was still in place, the fight would have to make at least $200 million after the network and promoters had taken their cuts in order to pay both fighters the same amount.
As for who the group was asking to stage the fight in a certain country, only a few weeks ago Jeff Mayweather revealed that they had been approached by a South African group affiliated with former president Nelson Mandela. So although Arum doesn’t specify who the group might have been this is, Mandela’s people are a good bet.
Brian Phipps, Pittsburgh: “100 million? Did he get into uncle Roger’s stash of A-side meth?”
Pascal Ward, Philly: “Every time the sides talk there are fresh excuses from Floyd, he couldn’t fight anyone and earn $100 million so clearly he isn’t interested in Pacquiao”
