Pacman: 48 Hours To Decide If He’ll Fight Floyd

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Manny Pacquiao could decide today or tomorrow whether he will fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. on May 5th — this according to Manny’s trainer. Freddie Roach just told TMZ Manny and promoter Bob Arum are in the Philippines, figuring out if they can put off several deals to fight other boxers … to clear the decks for a Mayweather fight in May. Roach is scoffing at Mayweather’s tweet, in which he calls Pacquiao a “punk,” saying, “He should look in the mirror. He’s been ducking us for 2 years.”

As for what weight class Pacquiao will fight Mayweather … Roach said 147 lbs — that’s the upper limit of welterweight. Of course, even if Pacquiao can rearrange his schedule, both sides have to agree on a financial deal. Roach says, “We’ll do it on even terms.”

[aquariusone]

Reported by BBC 1 hour ago:

Manny Pacquiao has accepted Floyd Mayweather's challenge for a showdown in May, but barriers remain in the way of a possible super-fight.

On Wednesday, Mayweather demanded Pacquiao "give the world what they want to see" and agree to a bout on 5 May.

And while Pacquiao said he wanted the fight, he said he favours a date in late May and suggested Mayweather could not guarantee his side of the purse.

"This is the fight the world wants," said Philippine superstar Pacquiao.

"[But] Mayweather wants a guaranteed purse so what he has to do is get a promoter who can give him the guarantee.

"I don't have problems getting a guarantee because I have a promoter who will give me my guaranteed purse.

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Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5 and give the world what they want to see... Step up Punk
Floyd Mayweather
via Twitter
"If he gets a guarantee, then we are going to share the revenue on a 50-50 basis."

Pacquiao's promoter Bob Arum added: "There is no problem on our part - the problem is on Mayweather's.

"Mayweather needs somebody on his side that's going to guarantee his purse. Mayweather has nobody on his side and GBP (Oscar de la Hoya's Golden Boy Promotions) is not going to guarantee his purse."

Arum and Pacquiao's financial advisor, Michael Koncz, want a bout in late May to coincide with the completion of a 45,000-seater arena in Las Vegas.

The MGM Grand, where Mayweather is booked to fight on 5 May, has a capacity of only 17,000 and Koncz claims an additional $30m (£13m) could be raised if the bout took place in the new venue.

"Why would I tell Manny to fight on 5 May and throw away a percentage of $30m? That's crazy," said Koncz.

BEN DIRS' BLOG
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"This was boxing's big chance to emerge from the slump. If the dunces can't sort this mess out, many will think the sport is not worth forgiving."
Read Ben's blog when the last Mayweather/Pacquiao fight collapsed
Last week, five-weight world champion Mayweather had a 90-day jail term deferred so that he could fulfil a pre-arranged date at the MGM Grand. He will now begin his sentence on 1 June.

The WBC welterweight champion subsequently used his Twitter account to challenge Pacquiao.

"Step up Punk," said the undefeated American. "Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5 and give the world what they want to see (sic)."

A year ago, talks failed when Pacquiao, 33, pulled out after Mayweather demanded random drugs tests before the bout.

At the time Arum called Mayweather "a psychological coward who doesn't want to fight anybody who has a chance of beating him", and predicted the bout would never take place.

But if the purse on offer matches the £25m-per-fighter deal that was rumoured to be on offer last year, the biggest payday in boxing history may prove persuasive.

[aquariusone]

Mayweather is a great boxer! However, while he claims to be "his own promoter", he really has not worked as a REAL PROMOTER" in the strict sense of the word. He has employed GBP to do the tough job. ELLERBE "manages"; he does not promote either. When they announced the "MAY 5 fight 'with the little man' at MGM", it was all hype - nothing with substance or opponent.

But now, it is clear. Posturing is over. Arum will guarantee Pacquiao's purse (which is less than what guarantee Mayweather wants). Who is to guarantee Mayweather's purse?

And since this is going to be the "biggest fight in history", the business planners are gearing up to maximize exposure - to a 40,000/45,000 seat stadium. That rules out CINCO DE MAYO & MGM.

Mayweather has a problem. He has to get someone to "back him up" - financially and set up the mechanism to negotiate the entire affair - with Top Rank, et al.

Summing it up, the MOI (Memorandum of Intent) is virtually in place. NOw hard work begins.

[Fibroso]

More news.............

MANILA, Philippines -- Manny Pacquiao's camp says there is no economic sense in setting up a bout with Floyd Mayweather on May 5 after the unbeaten American publicly challenged the Filipino champion via Twitter.

Pacquiao's financial adviser Michael Koncz told The Associated Press on Thursday that a 45,000-seat boxing arena being built in Las Vegas won't be finished before the end of May and staging the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight in a smaller venue is "foolish from an economic standpoint."

Mayweather challenged and taunted Pacquiao to a May 5 bout in a tweet on Tuesday.

"Manny Pacquiao I'm calling you out let's fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see," he tweeted.

Mayweather is available for a fight in May at the MGM Grand Garden after a judge agreed last week to postpone his jail sentence for domestic violence until June. Mayweather was sentenced to 87 days in jail, but likely will serve less time.

The MGM Grand seats about 17,000, which could fetch around $20 million in sales, but the larger arena could raise an additional $30 million, Koncz said.

"Why would I tell Manny to fight on the 5th and throw away a percentage of 30 million? That's crazy," he said.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum has told the Philippines' GMA television the only reason the fight won't happen is if there is an "economic problem."

He said the fight "could happen very, very easily" at the end of May -- enough time to build the outdoor arena "the fight so badly needs."

"I will also guarantee Manny's purse," he said. "In other words, Manny doesn't want to go into the ring and just fight out a percentage."

He said Mayweather is looking for "outside parties to guarantee his end of the purse."

"So, until he finds the angel, there is no fight," Arum said.

In a separate interview with GMA, Pacquiao said that if Mayweather agrees to a "50-50 sharing, there will be no problem."

"The purse is not the issue right now, the date is," Koncz said. "But we don't have a problem splitting it 50-50."