The much-awaited mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao by the end of 2012?
Don't count on it.
“I have to be realistic about this,” Top Rank chief Bob Arum told Boxing Scene. “I don’t think that Mayweather will be available in the fall to fight Manny. He certainly doesn’t indicate that he wants to fight him now. I would think, probably, everybody would be better off if we thought about that fight [for] next year. But everything is open."
Negotiations for the fight, expected to be the highest-grossing bout in the history of the sport, have been ongoing now for years but have fallen through due to disagreements on drug testing. Most recently, the 2 fighters reportedly spoke to each other but ultimately could not find a compromise on purse split.
Mayweather wanted more than half of the earnings, but Pacquiao disagreed. Because of the failed negotiations, Mayweather is instead scheduled to face Miguel Cotto on May 5, while Pacquiao will meet American boxer Timothy Bradley on June 9.
Need to happen
Pacquiao had said last month that he is willing to take a smaller purse, which raised hopes on the bout possibly happening in November this year, but Arum's recent statements contradicted the expectations.
Boxing fans and analysts alike have anticipated the fight, but because it has not materialized, it has sparked controversy among fight experts on who deserves to be on the pound-for-pound list's No.1 spot, considering that the 2 have yet to meet in the ring. (www.rappler.com)
Don't count on it.
“I have to be realistic about this,” Top Rank chief Bob Arum told Boxing Scene. “I don’t think that Mayweather will be available in the fall to fight Manny. He certainly doesn’t indicate that he wants to fight him now. I would think, probably, everybody would be better off if we thought about that fight [for] next year. But everything is open."
Negotiations for the fight, expected to be the highest-grossing bout in the history of the sport, have been ongoing now for years but have fallen through due to disagreements on drug testing. Most recently, the 2 fighters reportedly spoke to each other but ultimately could not find a compromise on purse split.
Mayweather wanted more than half of the earnings, but Pacquiao disagreed. Because of the failed negotiations, Mayweather is instead scheduled to face Miguel Cotto on May 5, while Pacquiao will meet American boxer Timothy Bradley on June 9.
Need to happen
Pacquiao had said last month that he is willing to take a smaller purse, which raised hopes on the bout possibly happening in November this year, but Arum's recent statements contradicted the expectations.
Boxing fans and analysts alike have anticipated the fight, but because it has not materialized, it has sparked controversy among fight experts on who deserves to be on the pound-for-pound list's No.1 spot, considering that the 2 have yet to meet in the ring. (www.rappler.com)