By: Leo Reyes
Instead of fighting only once in a year, Manny Pacquiao has to face two hungry challengers to make at least $40 million in one year as a consequence of Floyd Mayweather's refusal to face him in the ring this year.
Pacquiao has officially announced he will face Shane Mosley on May 7 at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas for a $15 million guaranteed purse. Adding revenues from pay-per-view buys and other receipts, Pacquiao can make probably a bit over $20 million or maybe less.
If Mayweather agrees to face Pacquiao this year, he stands to make no less than $40 million in guaranteed purse and other receipts including proceeds from pay-per-view subscriptions.
As it is now, Pacquiao has to fight twice this year to make at least $40 million. It would have been much easier and convenient for him to fight only once this year, owing to his work in congress, which needs his time and personal attention.
In reality, Mayweather stands to make the same amount of money, assuming they agree on a 50-50 purse split. Likewise, it would have been convenient for the undefeated boxer to fight once in a year as he previously stated.
But who is actually to be blamed for the fiasco?
Based on a number of online polls, most boxing fans say Mayweather should be blamed for the failed fight negotiations. They think Mayweather did not really want to fight Pacquiao as he tried to find a way to justify his decision.
Others said Mayweather is afraid to face Pacquiao as he risks losing his "O". Everyone knows Mayweather, who remains undefeated in his 41 professional fights, will do just about anything to keep his unblemished record.
One of Mayweather's justifications for evading Pacquiao is the Filipino boxer's continued refusal to submit himself to his version of Olympic-style random drug testing.
But everyone knows he wanted his own version of random tests on Pacquiao, which is not the same as the Olympic-style full random testing.
On record, Pacquiao has agreed to a 14-day drug testing window, which was previously and mutually agreed upon by both parties but Mayweather later reneged on his decision and instead wanted full random tests up until the night of the fight.
"We're going in a different direction," Arum told the Grand Rapids newspaper. "What I believe is that Floyd never really wanted the fight and this is just harassment of Pacquiao.
"We appeased Mayweather by agreeing to a urine analysis at any time, and blood testing before the press conference and after the fight. Mayweather pressed for blood testing even up to the weigh-in. He knew that Manny gets freaked out when his blood gets taken, and feels that it weakens him. This is just harassment and, to me, just signaled that he didn't want the fight."
As negotiations failed, Mayweather said, "I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken because, frankly, I don't know anyone who really does," Mayweather said in a statement. "But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.
It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night."
The recurring disagreement on the random drug testing issues continues to hound both boxers as the issue is muddled in mystery with no definite end in sight.
Meanwhile, Mayweather Jr has been fighting his own battle outside the ring as he got himself embroiled in legal issues in his home front, while Pacquiao has just returned to Manila from a grand family vacation in Japan and Australia.
Pacquiao is attending to his duties as a neophyte congressman of the Philippines. He will soon start training for his date with Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Pacquiao has officially announced he will face Shane Mosley on May 7 at MGM Grand Garden in Las Vegas for a $15 million guaranteed purse. Adding revenues from pay-per-view buys and other receipts, Pacquiao can make probably a bit over $20 million or maybe less.
If Mayweather agrees to face Pacquiao this year, he stands to make no less than $40 million in guaranteed purse and other receipts including proceeds from pay-per-view subscriptions.
As it is now, Pacquiao has to fight twice this year to make at least $40 million. It would have been much easier and convenient for him to fight only once this year, owing to his work in congress, which needs his time and personal attention.
In reality, Mayweather stands to make the same amount of money, assuming they agree on a 50-50 purse split. Likewise, it would have been convenient for the undefeated boxer to fight once in a year as he previously stated.
But who is actually to be blamed for the fiasco?
Based on a number of online polls, most boxing fans say Mayweather should be blamed for the failed fight negotiations. They think Mayweather did not really want to fight Pacquiao as he tried to find a way to justify his decision.
Others said Mayweather is afraid to face Pacquiao as he risks losing his "O". Everyone knows Mayweather, who remains undefeated in his 41 professional fights, will do just about anything to keep his unblemished record.
One of Mayweather's justifications for evading Pacquiao is the Filipino boxer's continued refusal to submit himself to his version of Olympic-style random drug testing.
But everyone knows he wanted his own version of random tests on Pacquiao, which is not the same as the Olympic-style full random testing.
On record, Pacquiao has agreed to a 14-day drug testing window, which was previously and mutually agreed upon by both parties but Mayweather later reneged on his decision and instead wanted full random tests up until the night of the fight.
"We're going in a different direction," Arum told the Grand Rapids newspaper. "What I believe is that Floyd never really wanted the fight and this is just harassment of Pacquiao.
"We appeased Mayweather by agreeing to a urine analysis at any time, and blood testing before the press conference and after the fight. Mayweather pressed for blood testing even up to the weigh-in. He knew that Manny gets freaked out when his blood gets taken, and feels that it weakens him. This is just harassment and, to me, just signaled that he didn't want the fight."
As negotiations failed, Mayweather said, "I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken because, frankly, I don't know anyone who really does," Mayweather said in a statement. "But in a fight of this magnitude, I think it is our responsibility to subject ourselves to sportsmanship at the highest level. I have already agreed to the testing and it is a shame that he is not willing to do the same.
It leaves me with great doubt as to the level of fairness I would be facing in the ring that night."
The recurring disagreement on the random drug testing issues continues to hound both boxers as the issue is muddled in mystery with no definite end in sight.
Meanwhile, Mayweather Jr has been fighting his own battle outside the ring as he got himself embroiled in legal issues in his home front, while Pacquiao has just returned to Manila from a grand family vacation in Japan and Australia.
Pacquiao is attending to his duties as a neophyte congressman of the Philippines. He will soon start training for his date with Shane Mosley on May 7 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
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