By Lem Satterfield, FanHouse
Seven-division champion, Manny Pacquiao, has reached an agreement in principle to put his WBO welterweight (147 pounds) belt on the line against unbeaten six-time titlist, Floyd Mayweather, in a bout that would take place on November 13 likely at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Konz, told FanHouse on Wednesday night.
Koncz added that there are documents in the hands of the Mayweather camp, which, BoxingScene.com's Rick Reeno reports include corroboration between Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions on Mayweather's demand for a random drug testing protocol, and a tentative agreement on a 50-50 split of the purse.
Koncz said that Mayweather's camp has two weeks --"whether it's July 13, or, July 15, it doesn't matter, but it's two weeks" -- within which to sign and return the documents indicating their acceptance of the terms.
If Mayweather does not indicate his acceptance of the terms by then, Pacquiao will begin negotiations with another opponent -- likely either Miguel Cotto or Antonio Margarito.
"I'm not going to discuss the negotiations, but so far, though, there are no issues. We're just waiting on Floyd. Floyd has to decide whether or not he's going to fight this year or next year or not at all. It's up to him, man to decide whether or not he is up to any obligation," said Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions, which handles Pacquiao's affairs.
"We want a fight this year, and if he doesn't take the fight this year, then we'll fight somebody else. As far as I'm concerned, there is no actual deadline date, but sometime in the middle of July," said Arum. "If we haven't gotten this thing locked up and done, then we're going ahead and taking another opponent. We're not just going to sit there and blow our chances for a fight in November."
Arum said the need to complete the deal has everything to do with promoting the fight.
"We want this fight period. This is the fight we want, period. But a lot of things that you want can't happen. Everything has to fall into place, and we need the time to start publicizing the fight during the month of August," said Arum. "We've got to get the tickets on sale, commercials done, etc. We have to begin gearing up and getting ready to go by the beginning of August -- whomever Manny is going to fight."
Arum had long reserved the date of Nov. 13 for the MGM Grand in Las Vegas and at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Tex., for the proposed mega fight, although it appears that the Las Vegas site is more likely.
Koncz said that Arum, Pacquiao, and himself have been involved in the negotiations for their side. FanHouse has learned that Mayweather, his advisers, Leonard Ellerbe and Al Haymon, and, HBO's Ross Greenburg also are believed to have been involved.
"I refuse to comment on the specifics and I'm not going to discuss any terms of the agreement that we want signed. And my recommendation to Manny and to Bob Arum is that once the agreement is signed, that the terms of the agreement remain confidential also," said Koncz.
"There's nothing to say. It's right and correct that we have an agreement, but there are no documents signed. And we will not sit here and jeopardize the November 13 fight date," said Koncz. "So if there are no documents signed within a two-week period of time, then I've been instructed to inform Mr. Arum that we're supposed to go ahead and find a new opponent."
Arum has expressed optimism that negotiations would end positively, even as he believed that a resolution should come "one way or the other" over the next two weeks.
Then again, six-time champion Mayweather (41-0, 25 knockouts) and seven-division king and WBO welterweight (147 pounds) titlist Pacquiao (51-3-2, 38 KOs) appeared to be set to fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand before talks reached an impasse in December over random drug testing for both fighters to be conducted by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.
The fighters had agreed on a 50-50 split of the revenue, as well as eight-ounce gloves and a clash at the welterweight (147 pounds) limit rather than a catch weight.
Since the original talks collapsed, a mutually agreed upon gag order has been in place for all parties involved in the negotiations until the talks are complete.
If Mayweather-Pacquiao doesn't happen, said Koncz, then Pacquiao will pursue a bout against either newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) champ, Cotto, whom Pacquiao has already knocked out in the 12th round in their November bout, or ex-world titlist, Margarito, who also has knocked out Cotto but has, himself, been stopped in the 11th round by Shane Mosley.
"The opponents remain the same: Floyd Mayweather, Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito. I don't put them in any specific order other than the fact that Mayweather is obviously the deal that we have been working on for some time," said Koncz.
"That's [Mayweather] the primary fight because that's what the public wants and that's what Manny wants to give the fans," said Koncz. "As far as Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito, there is no particular order. It comes down to monetary factors, it's as simple as that."
Source: boxing.fanhouse.com
Thursday, 1 July 2010
Report: Pacquiao agrees to fight Mayweather in November -- New York Post
New York Post
Representatives for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have agreed to a bout between the two fighters to be held Nov. 13, SI.com reports.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told SI.com on Wednesday that the deal still needs to be approved by Mayweather, with a deadline of mid-July.
"This really depends, as I see it, on whether Mayweather wants to fight [Pacquiao]" Arum said. "By mid-July, he's either in or out. We're not going to wait forever. We're going to have a fight on Nov. 13 and we would love it to be Mayweather."
Alternatives for Pacquiao are Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, told The Fan 590 radio in Toronto that if Mayweahter is the opponent, the fight will be in Las Vegas; if it''s someone else, it will be in Dallas.
"Well, we’re going to fight Nov. 13 against somebody and me and Manny both hope that it’s Mayweather. We’re trying to make every benefit we can to make that happen," Roach told the radio station, according to a transcript on SportsRadioInterviews.com.
"Again, we obviously want Mayweather. He has a big mouth and we’re going to shut him up."
Source: http://www.nypost.com/
Representatives for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have agreed to a bout between the two fighters to be held Nov. 13, SI.com reports.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told SI.com on Wednesday that the deal still needs to be approved by Mayweather, with a deadline of mid-July.
"This really depends, as I see it, on whether Mayweather wants to fight [Pacquiao]" Arum said. "By mid-July, he's either in or out. We're not going to wait forever. We're going to have a fight on Nov. 13 and we would love it to be Mayweather."
Alternatives for Pacquiao are Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.
Pacquiao's trainer, Freddie Roach, told The Fan 590 radio in Toronto that if Mayweahter is the opponent, the fight will be in Las Vegas; if it''s someone else, it will be in Dallas.
"Well, we’re going to fight Nov. 13 against somebody and me and Manny both hope that it’s Mayweather. We’re trying to make every benefit we can to make that happen," Roach told the radio station, according to a transcript on SportsRadioInterviews.com.
"Again, we obviously want Mayweather. He has a big mouth and we’re going to shut him up."
Source: http://www.nypost.com/
Bob Arum: Only Floyd Mayweather's approval stands in way of fight with Manny Pacquiao -- Grand Rapids Press
By Josh Slagter, The Grand Rapids Press
With obstacles such as random blood testing and purse split, a potential megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao -- negotiations that already had failed once -- looked as if it'd never come to fruition.
It still may not happen, but, according to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, the two sides have agreed on all terms and only Mayweather's final approval is needed to finalize the Nov. 13 fight, which likely would be in Las Vegas.
Arum told Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole the ball is in Mayweather's court on whether or not he wants to fight again this year.
“The question is whether Mayweather is willing to go into the ring this year. It’s up to him," Arum said. "His people would love him to do it. He may not want to do it. If Mayweather wants to fight in November, I believe the fight will be made. To me it seems -- it seems, and say that, because I’m not Mayweather -- that the only issue is whether he wants to fight in November.”
Mayweather, who is coming off a dominating unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley in May, has demanded random blood and urine testing for all future fights and even suggested he wouldn't accept a 50/50 purse split with Pacquiao, something the two sides agreed upon during the first negotiations.
Arum told Iole all of those issues have been resolved.
“It may be that Floyd wants to fight in May, in which case (Pacquiao will) fight (another opponent) in November and fight him in May," Arum said. "I am not going to talk about the specifics of the negotiations. You have my statement that there are no real issues that I can see, except whether he wants to fight now or later or not at all."
Arum reiterated that stance to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, saying the offer that's on the table now is good for next year, if needed.
"Nobody is under any obligation to fight this year," Arum said. "He may need more time. When he is ready, we are prepared to do the fight."
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who has represented the Mayweather camp in negotiations, cited an agreement the two sides had earlier this year to not speak about negotiations with the media after Iole apprised him of Arum's most recent comments.
“My reaction is no comment,” Schaefer said. “I really can’t say anything. I won’t comment in any way, shape or form. You know this and anybody who has called me knows this: The only two words I’m going to say when I’m asked about this are ‘No comment.’ That’s my comment. No comment.”
Arum told Mannix that Mayweather has until mid-July to accept the fight, otherwise he may move on to Antonio Margarito or a rematch with Miguel Cotto.
“As far as I’m concerned, we have two guys (Margarito and Cotto) in the wings who could make attractive fights for Manny, though they are certainly not as attractive as a Mayweather fight,” Arum said. “But I don’t want to talk about (Margarito and Cotto). I want to make sure there is no chance for this Mayweather fight to happen this year before I talk about any other fight."
Source: mlive.com
With obstacles such as random blood testing and purse split, a potential megafight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao -- negotiations that already had failed once -- looked as if it'd never come to fruition.
It still may not happen, but, according to Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, the two sides have agreed on all terms and only Mayweather's final approval is needed to finalize the Nov. 13 fight, which likely would be in Las Vegas.
Arum told Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole the ball is in Mayweather's court on whether or not he wants to fight again this year.
“The question is whether Mayweather is willing to go into the ring this year. It’s up to him," Arum said. "His people would love him to do it. He may not want to do it. If Mayweather wants to fight in November, I believe the fight will be made. To me it seems -- it seems, and say that, because I’m not Mayweather -- that the only issue is whether he wants to fight in November.”
Mayweather, who is coming off a dominating unanimous decision victory over Shane Mosley in May, has demanded random blood and urine testing for all future fights and even suggested he wouldn't accept a 50/50 purse split with Pacquiao, something the two sides agreed upon during the first negotiations.
Arum told Iole all of those issues have been resolved.
“It may be that Floyd wants to fight in May, in which case (Pacquiao will) fight (another opponent) in November and fight him in May," Arum said. "I am not going to talk about the specifics of the negotiations. You have my statement that there are no real issues that I can see, except whether he wants to fight now or later or not at all."
Arum reiterated that stance to Sports Illustrated's Chris Mannix, saying the offer that's on the table now is good for next year, if needed.
"Nobody is under any obligation to fight this year," Arum said. "He may need more time. When he is ready, we are prepared to do the fight."
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer, who has represented the Mayweather camp in negotiations, cited an agreement the two sides had earlier this year to not speak about negotiations with the media after Iole apprised him of Arum's most recent comments.
“My reaction is no comment,” Schaefer said. “I really can’t say anything. I won’t comment in any way, shape or form. You know this and anybody who has called me knows this: The only two words I’m going to say when I’m asked about this are ‘No comment.’ That’s my comment. No comment.”
Arum told Mannix that Mayweather has until mid-July to accept the fight, otherwise he may move on to Antonio Margarito or a rematch with Miguel Cotto.
“As far as I’m concerned, we have two guys (Margarito and Cotto) in the wings who could make attractive fights for Manny, though they are certainly not as attractive as a Mayweather fight,” Arum said. “But I don’t want to talk about (Margarito and Cotto). I want to make sure there is no chance for this Mayweather fight to happen this year before I talk about any other fight."
Source: mlive.com
Pacquiao-Mayweather agree to terms on fight -- Sports Illustrated
By Chris Mannix, SI.comRepresentatives for Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather have agreed to terms on a megafight, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum told SI.com on Wednesday. The deal still needs to be approved by Mayweather.
Arum told SI.com that Mayweather has until mid-July to make a decision.
"This really depends, as I see it, on whether Mayweather wants to fight [Pacquiao]" Arum said. "By mid-July, he's either in or out. We're not going to wait forever. We're going to have a fight on Nov. 13 and we would love it to be Mayweather."Arum said that if Mayweather passed on the fight, they could still make a deal under the negotiated terms next year.
"Nobody is under any obligation to fight this year," Arum said. "He may need more time. When he is ready, we are prepared to do the fight."
Possible alternative opponents for Pacquiao are Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.
Source: sportsillustrated.cnn.com
Pacquiao vs. Mayweather may happen, but not in Dallas -- USA Today
USA Today
The one fight every boxing fan wants to see is Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Pacquiao's trainer says his camp will take one more stab at making it happen.
Freddie Roach told The Fan 590 in Toronto that Pacquiao is set to fight on Nov. 13. The ideal opponent would be Mayweather, he said, but if that can't be negotiated Pacquiao will settle for a rematch with Miguel Cotto or a bout against Antonio Margarito.
"I talked to Bob Arum yesterday and he told me that he will know within a week if the deal is going to be done or not," Roach said. "Again, we obviously want Mayweather. He has a big mouth and we're going to shut him up."
Roach said the obvious stumbling blocks -- how the money will be split, and how much drug-testing will be done via blood samples -- haven't been resolved. And if Mayweather does agree to fight, Roach said, the event will be held in Las Vegas instead of at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium.
"There are two sites etched in. The MGM in Vegas, or Dallas," Roach said. "The thing is, Mayweather will not fight in Texas. If we get Mayweather we'll go to Vegas, if it's Margarito or Cotto, it will go Dallas."
Source: content.usatoday.com
The one fight every boxing fan wants to see is Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr., and Pacquiao's trainer says his camp will take one more stab at making it happen.
Freddie Roach told The Fan 590 in Toronto that Pacquiao is set to fight on Nov. 13. The ideal opponent would be Mayweather, he said, but if that can't be negotiated Pacquiao will settle for a rematch with Miguel Cotto or a bout against Antonio Margarito.
"I talked to Bob Arum yesterday and he told me that he will know within a week if the deal is going to be done or not," Roach said. "Again, we obviously want Mayweather. He has a big mouth and we're going to shut him up."
Roach said the obvious stumbling blocks -- how the money will be split, and how much drug-testing will be done via blood samples -- haven't been resolved. And if Mayweather does agree to fight, Roach said, the event will be held in Las Vegas instead of at the Dallas Cowboys' stadium.
"There are two sites etched in. The MGM in Vegas, or Dallas," Roach said. "The thing is, Mayweather will not fight in Texas. If we get Mayweather we'll go to Vegas, if it's Margarito or Cotto, it will go Dallas."
Source: content.usatoday.com
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