WBC world welterweight titlist “Pretty Boy” Floyd Mayweather called WBO world welterweight champion Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao Wednesday in the Philippines and challenged him to scrap May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
"I called him and asked him about us fighting May 5 and giving the World what they want to see," Mayweather, 34, detailed to ESPN anchor Stan Verrett in an email. "I also let him know we both can make a lot of money. He ask about a 50/50 split and I told him no that can't happen, but what can happen is you can make more money fighting me then you have made in your career. I also let him know I'm in control on my side but he needs to get on the same page with his promoter so we can make this fight happen."
Mayweather (42-0, 26 KOs), who has captured nine world titles in five different weight classes, continued to recount the conversation.
"I told him to tell his promoter that he only wants to fight Mayweather and that this fight will be the biggest fight in history. His manger came to my boxing gym a few months ago and we spoke about getting the defamation of character lawsuit dropped against me and about both fighters taking the random blood and urine test. I spoke to his manager again last night about the same thing. The call last night lasted 15 or 20 minutes. I mainly spoke to his manager he got on and off the phone real quick."
Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KOs), the first pugilist in history to win 10 world crowns in eight separate weight divisions, acknowledged in an interview with a Filipino television network that the talk occurred.
Mayweather and Pacquiao are both boxing legends and equally enormous attractions in the squared circle.
“Money Mayweather” simply doesn’t deserve more loot than “Pac-Man” to throw fists.
Nevertheless, despite his insane, unfounded and insatiable greediness, Mayweather does deserve kudos for so aggressively pressing this bout.
"There is no fight I want more than the Manny Pacquiao fight," said Mayweather, who earned a bronze medal as a featherweight at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta. "I guess he said he agreed to fight. The only thing that is stopping this fight right now, that I truly believe is stopping the fight, is (Pacquiao promoter) Bob Arum."
Pacquiao eked out an extremely controversial majority decision victory over WBA, WBO and The Ring lightweight king Juan Manuel Marquez in their third fight in November at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Vegas.
In stark contrast to Pacquiao, Mayweather badly outclassed, and essentially embarrassed, Marquez (53-6-1, 39 KOs) with a shutout unanimous decision triumph in September 2009.
It is apparent that Pacquiao’s struggles with Marquez have made Arum decide to protect his lottery ticket at all costs.
“The Fighting Pride of the Philippines” indisputably warrants an equal revenue share should this prizefight ever actually happen.
However, Floyd Mayweather is absolutely correct that Manny Pacquiao “needs to get on the same page with his promoter” and “make this fight happen."
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