Manny Pacquiao Agrees Terms To Fight Floyd Mayweather In Blockbuster Fight In 2015
Manny Pacquiao has paved the way for the fight that boxing fans around the world have dreamed about for years. The brawl between two of boxing greatest fighters will finally take place within a matter of months.
The long-awaited clash between Pacquiao and Mayweather looks like it will finally take place after Manny Pacquiao agreed terms for the bout.
Speaking to Yahoo Sports’ Kevin Lole, promoter Bob Arum revealed that the Pac-Man has given the go-ahead as have representatives of Floyd Mayweather. But, although it is Pacquiao himself who has agreed to the much anticipated super-fight, the agreement from Mayweather’s camp is from Floyd’s representatives rather than the man himself.
What the people want is finally happening?! Hope so. Pacquiao vs Mayweather! #FightOfTheCentury
— Jeric Teng (@jericteng) January 14, 2015
Recent reports surfaced that the fight was very close to being made, and a 60/40 purse split favoring Mayweather would be accepted by Pacquiao. An expected live gate of $40 million would see the bout double the existing record live gate for a boxing event. Although Arum refused to discuss specifics, he confirmed Pacquiao was on board with all the financial terms.
“I want to get some movement here, with bringing Mayweather to the table so we can go out and get everything signed and get the networks together and get the thing finished.”
As Pacquiao is contracted to HBO and Floyd to Showtime, a deal that would see both networks involved in the fight is expected. Pacquiao – Mayweather has been the fight that seemed impossible to make. The bout has been discussed for as long as six years, with both men dominating the recent history of the sport. While Mayweather is now acknowledged as the No. 1 pound for pound fighter in the world, there are many experts and fans who believe that Pacquiao would have his number in the ring.
Pacquiao/Arum agreed to 40%. I’m told both sides agreed to wear whichever brand gloves they want & Manny agreed to use USADA testing.
— Dan Rafael (@danrafaelespn) January 14, 2015
An agreement was close in 2009 for a bout in 2010, but fell apart when Pacquiao refused to meet Mayweather’s last-minute demands for drug testing.
In 2012, Mayweather personally offered Pacquiao $40 million for the fight, but Pacquiao declined because he wouldn’t have received any of the pay-per-view revenue.
Diiiiiiid somebody say Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather?!?!??! http://t.co/lu9qvwh5qA pic.twitter.com/QlRKaBmpSk
— CBS Sports (@CBSSports) January 14, 2015
But now that Arum has broken ranks, the fight looks certain to happen with the promoter denying he has gone public to try and force Mayweather’s hand, and Floyd being very unlikely to back down in light of the revelations that Pacquiao has reached an agreement.
“I’m not trying to force anybody’s hand, I’m just saying, ‘Hey, we’ve agreed to everything, period.’ The people we have talked to on Mayweather’s side have agreed to everything. Now we need Mayweather to step up and say, ‘Yeah, I’m on board. I agree.'”
“I’m not going to put a deadline on there. I’m just going to hope that everybody does the right thing and we get this concluded. It would be really sad if we went through this stuff again like we did before.”
Indeed, Pacquiao has been let down in the past when the fight looked likely to take place, most recently due to a loss of form. Losses to Timothy Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez raised questions of whether the chance of the super-fight had passed.
But these doubts have been crushed with the Pac-Man’s recent resurgence. Now, with Manny Pacquiao having agreed the terms and Mayweather seemingly very close, the fight may very well take place within a couple of months.
Whatever the outcome of the Pacquiao – Mayweather bout, it will go down as one of the biggest and most highly anticipated fights in boxing history.
[Image Via jobsnhire.com]
