MANILA, MARCH 1, 2012 (INQUIRER) By Roy Luarca - Floyd
Mayweather Jr. has found a sure way out of fighting Manny Pacquiao. The
loudmouth WBC welterweight champion said he'll never agree to an equal sharing
of fight revenues with the Filipino Fighter of the Decade.
"Just by speaking to Pacquiao on the phone, I mean, he's not one of the
sharpest knives in the drawer," Mayweather told the media Tuesday (Wednesday in
Manila) in the New York leg of the promotional tour of his bout against Miguel
Cotto on May 5 in Las Vegas. "He faces Floyd Mayweather, he's not getting
50-50."
Pacquiao had earlier announced that he'd fight Mayweather and agree to all
the American's terms, including Olympic style drug testing, provided they evenly
split all revenues to be generated from the megabuck showdown.
Mayweather also said the only way he'd consider fighting Pacquiao is if the
eight-division world champion leaves venerable promoter Bob Arum, head honcho of
Top Rank.
Mayweather offered $40 million to Pacquiao last month, with the Filipino not
getting any share of the PPV revenue.
Pacquiao nixed the offer, proposing instead a 45-45 sharing with the other 10
percent going to the winner of the bout.
Hall of Famer Arum went further, saying he's willing to give Mayweather $50
million, provided also that the prison-bound (June 1) fighter doesn't get any
PPV share.
EARLIER REPORT
Pacquiao 'embarrassed' by Mayweather offer
Philippine Daily Inquirer 6:08 am | Thursday, February 23rd
LOS ANGELES—Manny Pacquiao said the pieces were falling into place
for a world title fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. until the American boxer tried
to low-ball him on the split of the pay-per-view revenue.
The Filipino boxer said he called Mayweather personally to try to broker a
deal for a world championship fight and thought they had an agreement until the
latter brought up the pay-per-view.
Mayweather said he would give Pacquiao a $40-million lump sum if Pacquiao
agreed to let Mayweather keep the pay-per-view earnings for himself.
"It was embarrassing to me," Pacquiao said on Tuesday. "He was trying to take
advantage of me. It is clear he didn't want to fight."
Some experts have estimated that the pay per view could be around $160
million.
Pacquiao and Mayweather have tried several times to get a contract signed but
it has been scuttled for a variety of reasons, including disagreements over
blood testing and the share of the purse.
"I called Floyd and told him that we need to make this fight happen,"
Pacquiao said at The Beverly Hills Hotel.
"I said he could have whatever he wants, blood testing, 50/50 split and he
said 'Oh, well. I will give you what you want.' Then he mentioned the
pay-per-view."
Other opponents
For now, Pacquiao and the unbeaten Mayweather have lined up other opponents
with speculation that the mega fight could happen later in the year if it comes
off at all.
Pacquiao is scheduled to face American Timothy Bradley on June 9 at the MGM
Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas for Pacman's World Boxing Organization
welterweight belt.
Mayweather is set to fight Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto on May 5 for the
latter's World Boxing Association super welterweight title at the same venue.
Pacquiao's trainer Freddie Roach said he was not taking Bradley lightly, but
added it was hard not to get excited about a possible upcoming mega fight
against Mayweather.
"If both (Pacquiao and Mayweather) come off with good wins it will be a step
in the right direction," Roach said on Tuesday. "That is the match everyone in
the world wants to see."
Bradley was one of several fighters in the mix seen as a possible Pacquiao
opponent after talks with Mayweather fell through.
Bradley boasts a record of 28-0 with 12 knockouts. Pacquiao, 54-3-2 with 38
knockouts, hasn't lost since March 2005 and is considered the best
pound-for-pound boxer on the planet.
But Pacquiao was less than dominant as he struggled to a majority points
decision over Mexico's Juan Manuel Marquez in November last year.
Promo tour
Bradley and Pacquiao kicked off their promotional tour on Tuesday at The
Beverly Hills Hotel. They smiled as they posed for photos together and Pacquiao
then lightheartedly borrowed a camera and took pictures of Bradley in his boxing
pose.
Joking aside, Roach said he expected Pacquiao to knock Bradley out.
"I don't want him to be compassionate," Roach said. "I want him to knock
people out. Manny can't be a nice guy and try to touch gloves in the ring with
him."
Roach said Bradley was more than just a replacement fighter and that the
Pacquiao camp wanted to hand him the first loss of his career while he is still
in his prime.
"It is nice to fight a fighter who is undefeated and not worried about losing
that 0 on his record," Roach said.
Bradley, of Palm Springs, California, is coming off an eight-round knockout
victory over former world champion Joel Casamayor.
The 28-year-old Bradley said he planned to take the fight to the 33-year-old
Pacquiao.
Going out flaming
Bradley said he wouldn't make the same mistakes as Joshua Clottey and Shane
Moseley who were booed because they talked a good fight but didn't back it up
once they got in the ring with eight-division world champion Pacquiao.
"They were older and older boxers don't take chances like young fighters do,"
Bradley said.
"I don't have a lot of miles on me like Manny. If I am going out then I am
going out flaming. He is going to have to knock me out. Manny is going to have
to kill me to stop me," he added.
Bad habits
Pacquiao will travel to New York for another news conference on Thursday and
then fly back to the Philippines where he is a member of Congress.
Pacquiao has also divested himself of some bad habits, selling a casino he
owned and getting rid of the fighting cocks in the Philippines.
"Manny got a lot of distractions out of his life," Roach said. "He sold all
his cocks for fighting, doesn't gamble, doesn't drink and he and his wife are
getting along." AFP
Chief News Editor: Sol
Jose Vanzi
© Copyright, 2012 by PHILIPPINE HEADLINE
NEWS ONLINE
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