The greatest fight that has never happened might be inching closer to fruition on Friday as a source inside the Floyd Mayweather camp told us that “Money” will have no choice but to accept the terms of a contract to fight Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao on May 2nd at the MGM Grand Casino in Las Vegas.
According to our source, the Pay-Per-View sales on Mayweather’s last two fights with Maidana were not as good as expected. Floyd only has two fights left on his contract and has made no secret that he plans to retire after the contract is up. Mayweather is aware that he has reached a point in his career that if he doesn’t fight Manny Pacquiao, it will tarnish his legacy.
If last night’s Los Angeles Lakers game is any indication as what the public wants, our source is right. Mayweather was courtside for the Lakers game against the Cleveland Cavaliers last night in a Mexican flag themed outfit. The crowd booed him when he was shown on the big screen, a sign that the public knows Pacquiao is ready to fight and the fight now hinges on Mayweather’s approval.
On Wednesday, Top Rank CEO, Bob Arum, announced that Manny Pacquiao had agreed to terms for a fight on May 2nd at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao reportedly agreed to give Floyd top billing, a majority of the gate, a 60-40 split on PPV sales, Olympic style drug testing, the types of gloves that would be worn and more. He was stopped by TMZ in New York on Friday morning and had just one message for Money:
“Sign the contract,” he told the TMZ cameraman.
Our source also said that CBS President, Les Moonves, is in direct contact with Mayweather’s camp and has already spoken with HBO executives to work out a joint PPV broadcast. He also said that he had spoken to Floyd recently and that he told him he wanted this fight and that he would agree to terms “relatively soon.”
These sentiments are right in line with Showtime executive Stephen Espinoza statements on Thursday to the Associated Press.
“Personally, I’ve been involved in this negotiations continuously since the very first time in 2009,” he told the AP. “I can say I’m not sure there’s a point where I personally observed him [Floyd Mayweather] wanting it more than over the last few months.”
It looks like the fight of the decade is just days away from happening. Cross your fingers.
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