BAGUIO CITY, Philippines — Now it can be told. The reason why Floyd Mayweather doesn't want to get into the ring and slug it out with Manny Pacquiao till the final bell is because he wants a huge pie of the prize money.
Talking to reporters during Pacquiao's open workout here Monday, promoter Bob Arum said he had recently explored the possibility of getting a deal done for the mouth-watering Pacquiao-Mayweather slugfest but ended up – as expected – heartbroken.
"Can anyone guess just how much Floyd wants (to fight Pacquiao?)," asked Arum to a group of scribes with a quizzical look in his face.
The Bulletin gave an answer that was right on the button.
"Yeah, a hundred (million dollars)," said the Top Rank chief, shrugging his shoulders. "That only says he doesn't want to fight."
There have been efforts in the past to get a deal in place for what could be the biggest fight in the history of the fight game but the involved parties could not agree on some delicate matters like revenue-sharing and the touchy issue of random drug testing, resulting in the collapse of negotiations that left fight fans disappointed.
The 79-year-old Arum wondered what was on Mayweather's mind by insisting he deserves that amount.
"That leaves nothing for Manny," said Arum, who is here to check on the progress of Pacquiao's training for his May 7 showdown with Shane Mosley.
So unless Mayweather decides to keep his feet planted on the ground, a clash with Pacquiao won't happen at all, said Arum, who is now more inclined to think that the next best thing is a third fight between Pacquiao and Mexican counter-puncher Juan Manuel Marquez.
In the event Pacquiao gets past Mosley, Arum will likely push forward with a Marquez fight for November.
Pacquiao and Marquez have an issue to settle following the outcome of their first two meetings in 2004 and 2008.
The first fight ended in a split draw while the rematch went Pacquiao's way on a split decision, a result that left Marquez and many fight fans clamoring for a rubber match.
So, it only makes sense what Arum is up to.
Nick Giongco, Manila Bulletin
