Pacquiao adviser says Mayweather still in the picture
Koncz, a Canadian, is currently in Las Vegas to speak with Top Rank chief Bob Arum about Pacquiao’s next opponent and "we have not closed the door on Mayweather," Lem Satterfield of ringtv.craveonline.com reported yesterday.
Mayweather recently nixed a 50-50 purse split with Pacquiao for their proposed May 5 showdown at the MGM Grand, angering Arum who exclaimed dealing with the American is "a waste of time."
"I’m here in Las Vegas pursuant to Manny’s instructions trying to finalize his next bout. No doors have been shut on any of our options to this point," Satterfield quoted Koncz as saying. The Canadian, however, refused to confirm or deny whether he expects to meet with Mayweather, who lives in Las Vegas.
Reigning World Boxing Association junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, whom Pacquiao stopped in the 12th round in November 2009, appears to have emerged as the frontrunner to meet Pacquiao.
Pacquiao’s camp has set June 9 as his next bout at either the Thomas & Mack Center or the MGM Grand, with Mayweather, Cotto, Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez, IBF-WBA junior welterweight titleholder Lamont Peterson or WBO junior welterweight champion Tim Bradley as his possible opponent.
Meanwhile, Cotto’s adviser, Gabby Penagaricano, has confirmed there have been talks with both Pacquiao and Mayweather, the latter regarding a fight on May 5, according to Satterfield.
Koncz first met with Mayweather in late November, when the Canadian visited the American at his Las Vegas-based gym.
Last week, Pacquiao confirmed to a local television network that Mayweather had called him in the Philippines from Las Vegas by phone.
The conversation, as recalled by Pacquiao, went like this: "The talk about the negotiation proceeds forward. I said the 50-50 was approved and there’s no problem. Anytime. It’s in your hands. We’ll just wait if it’s OK with you."
Mayweather’s version, however, was different.
"He asked 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 than you have made in your career," the American said.
"I also let him know I’m in control on my side, but he needs to get on the same page as his promoter so we can make this fight happen."
Mayweather is set to begin an 87-day jail sentence starting on June 1, and has targeted May 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas for his next bout.
Arum and Koncz have dismissed that date for the much-awaited bout, citing their camp’s desire to construct a 40,000-seat, temporary outdoor venue near the Las Vegas Strip in late May or early-June to maximize revenue.
When Will Pacquiao and Mayweather Fight?
“Money” Mayweather recently took to his Twitter account to jab Pacquiao and call him out for a fight on May 5 in Las Vegas. Not long ago, Mayweather started calling Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser. Last week, Koncz handed the phone to Pacquiao, and the two boxers vying for the title of best pound-for-pound pugilist in the world enjoyed a private conversation.
Pacquiao told Mayweather that he wanted to make the fight and would be content with a 50-50 split of revenues. “No, that can’t happen,” Mayweather told ESPN he countered. “But what can happen is you can make more money fighting me than you have made in your career.”
Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum fumed at the offer.
“Mayweather and his people are completely irrational,” Arum said Friday. “Pacquiao has the highest gates, highest pay-per-view numbers, brings in more high rollers to Vegas, and he is supposed to take less than 50%? Never.”
Arum explained another reason, in addition to compensation, why the fight won’t happen per Mayweather’s demands. “May 5 is impossible,” he said. “We couldn’t get the right cable arrangements by then, or complete the outdoor stadium we are building with a temporary seating capacity of around 45,000. We would lose 30 to 40 million dollars of revenue, and that’s crazy.”
Arum said two other dates could work: May 26 and June 9. Mayweather is due to begin his 87-day jail sentence on June 1, but Arum was confident that Mayweather’s legal team could make a successful plea for a short delay in his reporting date.
In the meantime, Team Pacquiao is plowing ahead, considering other possible opponents for a June fight. The short list includes Timothy Bradley, Miguel Cotto, Lamont Peterson and a rematch with Marquez.
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach has indicated that he thinks it might be hard to work out the details for this contest by May, but he fervently hopes the mega fight will take place in November 2012. In an interview with ESPN, Roach moaned, “It’s ridiculous that two grown men can’t do business together. It’s like they both want to take their ball and go home. They just need to drop the issues they have with each other and negotiate.”
But Pacquiao and Mayweather are two grown men who have talked for years about how much they love to please their fans. If there is any truth to these words, one of these future Hall-of-Famers has to step up and do whatever is necessary to make this fight a reality.
By Gordon Marino
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