Gamer
11-02-2010, 08:06 PM
c/p By Lem Satterfield
In late July, following the second round of failed negotiations for a Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao clash, HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg acknowledged that he acted as a mediator between Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum, Top Rank Promotions' CEO, and Mayweather's manager, Al Haymon, even as Golden Boy Promotions' president, Oscar De La Hoya, and Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, had denied that negotiations took place.
According to Greenburg, the fight was close to being made during both rounds of negotiations. The second time around, Mayweather turned the fight down without reason. To date, Greenburg was never provided with an explanation from Mayweather or his handlers.
"Both times, the fight was very close to being made. And, the second time around, you know, all that I can say is that you would have to ask Floyd Mayweather why the fight wasn't made. To this day, I really don't know why Floyd decided that he didn't want the fight any more in the fall," Greenburg said.
"To this day, I don't know why he wanted to take some more time off. Only Floyd has that answer. I certainly don't have that answer. But, you know, it was very close. It was so, so, close. I think that it was so close that I don't think that it's going to take much to make the fight the third time around."
If Mayweather can clear up his outstanding legal issues, and Pacquiao defeats Antonio Margarito on November 13, Greenburg appears confident that a Mayweather-Pacquiao encounter has a good chance of happening in 2011.
"I have to remain optimistic. But before we get there, there are a lot of things in the way. One of those things is Antonio Margarito. The other is Floyd Mayweather having to deal with his personal life in Las Vegas. Those are two, big obstacles. But if we can clear those hurdles, then, I'm pretty optimistic about that fight happening if we get a shot at making it again. I have to be optimistic," Greenburg said.
In late July, following the second round of failed negotiations for a Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao clash, HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg acknowledged that he acted as a mediator between Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum, Top Rank Promotions' CEO, and Mayweather's manager, Al Haymon, even as Golden Boy Promotions' president, Oscar De La Hoya, and Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, had denied that negotiations took place.
According to Greenburg, the fight was close to being made during both rounds of negotiations. The second time around, Mayweather turned the fight down without reason. To date, Greenburg was never provided with an explanation from Mayweather or his handlers.
"Both times, the fight was very close to being made. And, the second time around, you know, all that I can say is that you would have to ask Floyd Mayweather why the fight wasn't made. To this day, I really don't know why Floyd decided that he didn't want the fight any more in the fall," Greenburg said.
"To this day, I don't know why he wanted to take some more time off. Only Floyd has that answer. I certainly don't have that answer. But, you know, it was very close. It was so, so, close. I think that it was so close that I don't think that it's going to take much to make the fight the third time around."
If Mayweather can clear up his outstanding legal issues, and Pacquiao defeats Antonio Margarito on November 13, Greenburg appears confident that a Mayweather-Pacquiao encounter has a good chance of happening in 2011.
"I have to remain optimistic. But before we get there, there are a lot of things in the way. One of those things is Antonio Margarito. The other is Floyd Mayweather having to deal with his personal life in Las Vegas. Those are two, big obstacles. But if we can clear those hurdles, then, I'm pretty optimistic about that fight happening if we get a shot at making it again. I have to be optimistic," Greenburg said.