MANILA, Philippines - The fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a done deal here and a done deal there.
Depending on who’s talking and who’s listening, it sounds like there’s indeed a higher chance now for the super fight to happen than a few years ago.
Top Rank chief Bob Arum said he’s “more excited now” than he was before that the fight that could generate revenues of over $200 million could happen.
Asked why, the legendary promoter said, “It’s because we’re talking to responsible people now.”
Even Pacquiao is hopeful that fight fans would finally see the fight.
“Cross your fingers,” he told scribes in Macau days ahead of this dominant win over previously undefeated Chris Algieri.
Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, said they’re doing everything they could to make it happen.
He sees no problem with drug testing, the weight, the date and venue, adding that when it comes to the purse sharing, Pacquiao is open to negotiations.
“We’re very negotiable. We’re not expecting to take the lion’s share. If we have to give a little bit to get the fight we will do that,” said Koncz.
It was reported that Dubai is willing to put up $200 million to land the fight. But it won’t be easy because MGM in Las Vegas will not let the big fish get away.
An American website that talks about brotherhood among Christians tried to jump the gun on everybody when it announced yesterday that Pacquiao vs Mayweather is a “done deal.”
It cited sources saying that negotiations have silently been going on for months now, and the announcement should come as a “Christmas gift” for fight fans.
ThyBlackMan.com went on to say that Mayweather, still undefeated, is concerned about the rematch clause, that if he wins, he has the option to say “No” to a second fight.
But if Pacquiao wins, a rematch is in order.
Pacquiao told Pinoy scribes the day after the Algieri fight that if he faces Mayweather, it’s not going to be a one-fight affair.
“We can fight two or three times,” he said.
Mayweather hasn’t made any serious comment on the latest development which points to the fight happening in the first six months of 2015.
It could happen in May.
Very recently, Mayweather posted on Twitter, “Money talks.”
He didn’t say more.