Nearly every detail is finalized for Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao to fight on March 13 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas but one. That one detail, though, may kill the fight.
Negotiations are at an impasse over Pacquiao’s failure to agree to random Olympic-style drug testing, said Leonard Ellerbe, the CEO of Mayweather Promotions, on Tuesday.
Pacquiao trainer Freddie Roach said his fighter is willing to comply with strict drug-testing standards, but Roach won’t allow Pacquiao to have blood drawn 48 hours before the fight.
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Ellerbe said he would not let Mayweather enter the ring unless Pacquiao agreed to it.
Both sides agreed that the drug testing issue is the only hurdle preventing the fight from being finished. Earlier Tuesday, Golden Boy Promotions officially requested March 13 from the Nevada State Athletic Commission to host the show.
“As Floyd’s management, we are insistent that there be a level playing field,” Ellerbe said. “This is in the best interests of the fighters, the fans and the sport. If you want a level playing field, the best way to do it is to have Olympic-style, random drug testing administered by the premier agency in the world, the [United States Anti-Doping Agency].”
Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum said the demand is “absolutely crazy,” done simply to harass Pacquiao, who is squeamish about needles, and is proof that Mayweather doesn’t really want the fight.
Arum said the request has been an unsettled issue since the first day of negotiations last month.
“We’re not going to agree to have Manny give blood in training, because that’s stupid,” Arum said. “Every doctor in the world will tell you that is stupid. He’ll give his blood at the beginning of the year and he’s willing to be urine-tested 24/7, but blood doesn’t show [expletive] and he’s not going to do it.”
Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s adviser and de facto manager, said Pacquiao believes drawing blood so close to a competition harms the body, but the boxer is willing to have his blood drawn a month away from the fight as a compromise.
Koncz said Pacquiao was willing to pass on the fight if it came to that.
“Manny has a lot more options than Mayweather does,” Koncz said. “Manny is clean and he’s never done a thing, and he’s willing to go to great lengths to prove it. It’s my understanding that this stuff doesn’t just leave your system overnight.
“He’ll take a blood test immediately after the fight, if that’s what they insist upon. But Manny believes very strongly that it would be harmful to him to draw blood that soon before the fight and he plain and simple isn’t going to do it.”
In a statement released by his publicist, Mayweather said he is willing to submit to the testing. There was never any suspicion that Pacquiao had ever taken banned substances until earlier this year, when Floyd Mayweather Sr. suggested he was on steroids.
Pacquiao has passed every urine test he’s been given in connection with boxing matches.
“I understand Pacquiao not liking having his blood taken, because frankly I don’t know anyone who really does,” Mayweather said in his 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. I hope that this is either some miscommunication or that Manny will change his mind and step up and allow these tests, which were good enough for all these other great athletes, to be performed by USADA.”
Blood tests for illegal drugs and banned substances are not required by the Nevada State Athletic Commission, which would have regulatory control of the bout if it is held in Las Vegas.
In Nevada, a fighter is required to submit to a blood test that screens for HIV and Hepatitis B and C, as well as other blood-borne diseases, as part of the requirement to gain a license.
A license in Nevada is good for one year. In Pacquiao’s case, he received his 2009 license shortly before he fought Ricky Hatton in May. He submitted his blood to the commission between April 5 and April 20, said Keith Kizer, the commission’s executive director.
Kizer said all fighters who fight in Nevada are subject to random urine tests as well as any other medical tests, such as an MRI or a CAT scan, that the commission deems necessary. Arum said Pacquiao is willing to submit to testing by an outside agency but won’t give his blood. Roach said it’s an issue because Mayweather’s side has been insisting Pacquiao give blood as close as 48 hours within the fight.
“We’ll accommodate their requests and do urine testing up the wazoo and we’ll agree to have them done by an outside agency,” Arum said. “Manny has nothing to hide. But he’s not going to give blood because that’s crazy. He’ll do it at the beginning and he’ll do it at the end. That’s how it is done. Ask some former Olympic boxers how many times they give blood.”
Ellerbe said having the testing administered by USADA would quell suspicions about the procedures or the result.
“This is no rooty toot organization,” said Ellerbe, who noted that such testing was accepted by elite athletes such as LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Phelps and Lance Armstrong.
Roach scoffed at such talk and said it won’t matter to him if the fight is not held.
“I really don’t care, because Manny doesn’t need Floyd Mayweather,” Roach said. “The tests he’s requesting are not commission tests, they’re not boxing tests and this is not an Olympic sport. A urine test is just as qualified as a blood test. [Human growth hormone] is not detected by blood or urine.”
The World Anti-Doping Agency successfully used blood testing at the 2004 Olympics in Athens to test for HGH.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Mayweather promoter requests use of MGM Grand for Pacquiao fight
Although, a squabble over drug testing has apparently put the bout in "jeopardy," according to Floyd Mayweather Jr.'s representatives, the boxer's promoter has petitioned the state of Nevada for a permit to stage the megafight against Manny Pacquiao at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, a state official told The Times Tuesday.
"They've made a date request for MGM for the fight, for both March 13 and May 1," Nevada State Athletic Commission executive officer Keith Kizer said.
A source close to the negotiations but not authorized to speak publicly told The Times on Tuesday "MGM ... that's where it is going to be."
The bout has been verbally negotiated to take place March 13, although the May 1 option was earlier considered.
Kizer said the Nevada commission will consider the date request by Golden Boy Promotions at its meeting in January.
A host of other sites, including Staples Center ($20-million guarantee) and Jerry Jones' Dallas Cowboys Stadium ($25 million), offered to stage the bout.
But the MGM Grand offers a possible $28-million live gate, according to fight sources, and another $4 million in closed-circuit sales.
"They've made a date request for MGM for the fight, for both March 13 and May 1," Nevada State Athletic Commission executive officer Keith Kizer said.
A source close to the negotiations but not authorized to speak publicly told The Times on Tuesday "MGM ... that's where it is going to be."
The bout has been verbally negotiated to take place March 13, although the May 1 option was earlier considered.
Kizer said the Nevada commission will consider the date request by Golden Boy Promotions at its meeting in January.
A host of other sites, including Staples Center ($20-million guarantee) and Jerry Jones' Dallas Cowboys Stadium ($25 million), offered to stage the bout.
But the MGM Grand offers a possible $28-million live gate, according to fight sources, and another $4 million in closed-circuit sales.
Pacman demands
or fear of being outsmarted by Floyd Mayweather Jr., Manny Pacquiao, by way of his lawyer Franklin Gacal, said in a text message late Tuesday night in the Philippines that the Filipino fighter will be “demanding a penalty of $10 million per pound or a fraction thereof over and above 147 lbs during the weighin” in relation to the March 13, 2010 fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Gacal, however, made it clear that the “penalty applies to both fighters”, meaning if Pacquiao fails to make weight, he will also be forced to cough out the same amount.
Against Juan Manuel Marquez last September, Mayweather was compelled to pay Marquez a total of $600,000 for coming in at 146 lbs. The agreed weight was 144 lbs. Mayweather went on to beat the overpowered Mexican on a lopsided 12-round decision. It is unclear if Mayweather will agree to what appears to be an over-the-top demand by Team Pacquiao. Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions are staging the fight and a formal annoucement is being awaited anytime this week. Both fighters are guaranteed a purse of $25 million each and their total earnings can go up to as high as $40 million apiece.
Against Juan Manuel Marquez last September, Mayweather was compelled to pay Marquez a total of $600,000 for coming in at 146 lbs. The agreed weight was 144 lbs. Mayweather went on to beat the overpowered Mexican on a lopsided 12-round decision. It is unclear if Mayweather will agree to what appears to be an over-the-top demand by Team Pacquiao. Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions are staging the fight and a formal annoucement is being awaited anytime this week. Both fighters are guaranteed a purse of $25 million each and their total earnings can go up to as high as $40 million apiece.
Monday, December 21, 2009
De La Hoya: Deal not signed yet
The deal is not done yet, but the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. welterweight title fight likely will take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Golden Boy Promotions president Oscar De La Hoya told ESPN.com on Monday.
"It looks like it," said De La Hoya, whose company is promoting Mayweather for the fight, of the MGM hosting the much-anticipated March 13 showdown between boxing's top two fighters. "There is no other place you really want to do a big event. It has to be in Las Vegas. But there is nothing 100 percent yet. A done deal is a signed deal and there is no signed deal."
Various media reports over the weekend cited unnamed sources saying that a deal had been finalized for the March 13 HBO PPV fight to take place at the MGM Grand.
Leonard Ellerbe, one of Mayweather's advisers, also told ESPN.com that the MGM Grand was likely but that "talks are ongoing. We haven't signed anything. We don't have a deal yet."
Richard Sturm, who is negotiating the deal as president of entertainment and sports for MGM Mirage, said through a spokesman, "It is not an appropriate time to comment."
Since a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather first became a serious possibility, the MGM Grand was considered the frontrunner. Its Grand Garden Arena has played host to boxing's biggest Las Vegas fights for more than a decade. Pacquiao and Mayweather have both fought there several times, including in their most recent fights.
Also, Golden Boy and Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter, both have close ties to the casino.
There has been worldwide interest in hosting the fight from venues in such places as Dallas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami, Dubai and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, for instance, offered a $25 million site fee -- the biggest in boxing history -- to host the fight at the new 100,000-seat Cowboys Stadium.
However, the promoters and fighters apparently believe they can generate more money by going to the MGM Grand, which seats only about 17,000, and scaling the ticket prices to produce a record gate of more than $20 million in addition to selling roughly 40,000 closed circuit seats in the city for $100 apiece.
Many believe that wherever the fight takes place, it will break the all-time pay-per-view record of 2.44 million buys set by De La Hoya's 2007 fight with Mayweather, which was at the MGM Grand. That fight also holds the record for biggest gate, generating $18,419,200 from a paid attendance of 17,078.
"We really appreciate Jones' interest in such a mega fight," De La Hoya said about the Dallas offer. "There was interest all over the world. It looks very bright for Mayweather-Pacquiao to possibly be able to break the records that I hold with Mayweather. If we do it right, Golden Boy and Top Rank, we can really shatter the existing record by hundreds or thousands of pay-per-views. It's really exciting."
Official announcement of the fight is expected any day with kickoff news conferences being planned for the first week of January.
"It looks like it," said De La Hoya, whose company is promoting Mayweather for the fight, of the MGM hosting the much-anticipated March 13 showdown between boxing's top two fighters. "There is no other place you really want to do a big event. It has to be in Las Vegas. But there is nothing 100 percent yet. A done deal is a signed deal and there is no signed deal."
Various media reports over the weekend cited unnamed sources saying that a deal had been finalized for the March 13 HBO PPV fight to take place at the MGM Grand.
Leonard Ellerbe, one of Mayweather's advisers, also told ESPN.com that the MGM Grand was likely but that "talks are ongoing. We haven't signed anything. We don't have a deal yet."
Richard Sturm, who is negotiating the deal as president of entertainment and sports for MGM Mirage, said through a spokesman, "It is not an appropriate time to comment."
Since a fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather first became a serious possibility, the MGM Grand was considered the frontrunner. Its Grand Garden Arena has played host to boxing's biggest Las Vegas fights for more than a decade. Pacquiao and Mayweather have both fought there several times, including in their most recent fights.
Also, Golden Boy and Top Rank, Pacquiao's promoter, both have close ties to the casino.
There has been worldwide interest in hosting the fight from venues in such places as Dallas, Los Angeles, New Orleans, Atlanta, Miami, Dubai and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Jerry Jones, the owner of the Dallas Cowboys, for instance, offered a $25 million site fee -- the biggest in boxing history -- to host the fight at the new 100,000-seat Cowboys Stadium.
However, the promoters and fighters apparently believe they can generate more money by going to the MGM Grand, which seats only about 17,000, and scaling the ticket prices to produce a record gate of more than $20 million in addition to selling roughly 40,000 closed circuit seats in the city for $100 apiece.
Many believe that wherever the fight takes place, it will break the all-time pay-per-view record of 2.44 million buys set by De La Hoya's 2007 fight with Mayweather, which was at the MGM Grand. That fight also holds the record for biggest gate, generating $18,419,200 from a paid attendance of 17,078.
"We really appreciate Jones' interest in such a mega fight," De La Hoya said about the Dallas offer. "There was interest all over the world. It looks very bright for Mayweather-Pacquiao to possibly be able to break the records that I hold with Mayweather. If we do it right, Golden Boy and Top Rank, we can really shatter the existing record by hundreds or thousands of pay-per-views. It's really exciting."
Official announcement of the fight is expected any day with kickoff news conferences being planned for the first week of January.
Opinion: Manny Pacquiao Won't Retire Yet If He Wins Over Mayweather
Some boxing fans say that Manny Pacquiao will win his March 13 fight with Floyd Mayweather to give way for a three-part mini series that will be staged in two years or less
In recent a recent statement on his upcoming fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said that his clash with the undefeated American boxer could be his last fight.
Boxing fans say otherwise, though. They think that Manny and Floyd will go for a mini series, a three-part encounter over a nearly two-year period. The compelling reason? The substantial amount of money that both fighters will lose if they only fight once.
Here's the scenario: Pacquiao will win the first of the three-part series match. Mayweather must have instructed his fight negotiator Richard Shaefer to insert a fight automatic rematch provision in the contract if Pacquiao wins in the first encounter.
Boxing fans will buy the idea of a rematch to give Mayweather a second chance to prove his claim that he is the superior fighter. The second encounter will generate much more revenues than the first one for the two great boxers as their popularity will remain high among boxing fans. Both boxers, win or lose, will make a lot of money.
But the scenario will allow Mayweather to win in the second encounter to keep an even fight. In the meantime, both boxers will claim that one is better then the other. Therefore a new encounter must happen in order to settle the issue once and for all. Hence, a third match is necessary.
For boxing fans, the third encounter is the real boxing fight as it will settle the issue of superiority of one over the other. Pride and not money will be the focal point here. Whoever wins in the third encounter will have accumulated a sinful amount of money and emerge as the greatest fighter of the decade.
The Pacquiao-Mayweather boxing match is set for March 13 and will most likely take place at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Manny Pacquiao is the current Ring Magazine's pound -for-pound king and WBO welterweight champion. Pacquiao is the first boxer in history to win seven times in seven different weight classes as a result of his latest victory over Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is an undefeated American professional boxer who retired from boxing two years ago and came out of retirement early this year to face Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in what appears to be a tune-up fight with Manny Pacquiao.
In recent a recent statement on his upcoming fight with Floyd Mayweather, Jr. Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao said that his clash with the undefeated American boxer could be his last fight.
Boxing fans say otherwise, though. They think that Manny and Floyd will go for a mini series, a three-part encounter over a nearly two-year period. The compelling reason? The substantial amount of money that both fighters will lose if they only fight once.
Here's the scenario: Pacquiao will win the first of the three-part series match. Mayweather must have instructed his fight negotiator Richard Shaefer to insert a fight automatic rematch provision in the contract if Pacquiao wins in the first encounter.
Boxing fans will buy the idea of a rematch to give Mayweather a second chance to prove his claim that he is the superior fighter. The second encounter will generate much more revenues than the first one for the two great boxers as their popularity will remain high among boxing fans. Both boxers, win or lose, will make a lot of money.
But the scenario will allow Mayweather to win in the second encounter to keep an even fight. In the meantime, both boxers will claim that one is better then the other. Therefore a new encounter must happen in order to settle the issue once and for all. Hence, a third match is necessary.
For boxing fans, the third encounter is the real boxing fight as it will settle the issue of superiority of one over the other. Pride and not money will be the focal point here. Whoever wins in the third encounter will have accumulated a sinful amount of money and emerge as the greatest fighter of the decade.
The Pacquiao-Mayweather boxing match is set for March 13 and will most likely take place at the MGM Grand Garden arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Manny Pacquiao is the current Ring Magazine's pound -for-pound king and WBO welterweight champion. Pacquiao is the first boxer in history to win seven times in seven different weight classes as a result of his latest victory over Puerto Rican boxer Miguel Cotto.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. is an undefeated American professional boxer who retired from boxing two years ago and came out of retirement early this year to face Juan Manuel Marquez of Mexico in what appears to be a tune-up fight with Manny Pacquiao.
Why Pacquiao Has Gained The Mental Edge On Floyd
Vitali Klitschko likes to say that the psychological aspect of a boxing duel starts long before the bell rings to start the first round. Don’t doubt the wisdom of Dr. Iron Fist for a second. If he says that in most major fights, one fighter often has a psychological advantage (to some degree) over the other, it must be true.
Applying this Vitali theory to Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, I believe Pacquiao holds a distinct and considerable psychological advantage right now. Allow me to explain and take you through some of the key exchanges that have created this important imbalance.
One of the first moves occured unexpectedly at the Mayweather-Marquez New York press conference. Leonard Ellerbe tapped me on the shoulder and wanted to explain some things to me one on one. Ellerbe hoped to try to straighten me out, as one of Floyd’s most ardent critics. A gentleman and classy man at all times, unlike his boss, Ellerbe told me, among other things, that Floyd would “never ever” fight Pacquiao for 50-50. I will never forget how vehemently he stressed the “never” and “ever,” which signaled to me right then and there that no matter how much money was involved, they were not interested in Pacquiao. In other words, they already knew how dangerously risky Pac was to Floyd and they were going to use the 50-50 as their out from the fight.
This was even before Cotto was annihilated by Pacquiao. Now I know it’s the truth that Floyd avoided Cotto in 2008 – Ellerbe said Cotto wasn’t a big enough name and his numbers weren’t big enough. But no matter what they say now or then, you just know Floyd had to be freaked out when he saw what Pac unleashed on Cotto.
Don’t forget, Floyd’s initial stance after Cotto was destroyed by Pac was expressed in that BBC interview (laying groundwork for Matthew Hatton London fight?) where Floyd floated all the excuses and reasons of why he didn’t have to fight Pac (Pac lost twice by KO, he beat Marquez more decisively than Pac did, He beat Oscar and Hatton first.) While many Floyd defenders assumed he was just trying to gain leverage for negotiations, this assumption is incorrect. Because Floyd came down from the 60-40 to 50-50 without much dickering. Floyd revealed at this time that he really wasn’t up for Pacquiao, like you would have expected him to be if he were so assured of victory. To the contrary, he was emitting negative vibes about taking the superfight.
Then Floyd made many more statements which indicated more negativity to the idea of fighting Pac in potentially the biggest fight of all time, though Ellerbe was running around saying it would be an easy fight for Floyd. If it was an easy win for Floyd, then why did Floyd say: It was a no win situation for him; He would flip-flop on his previous duck of Mosley and fight Mosley next if Mosley beats Berto (which would be a smaller money fight than Pac); He wanted to fight Matthew Hatton next in England (which is also a much less lucrative fight than Pac); He implied that Pac must be on some kind of performance enhancers. If it’s an easy fight, why would Floyd be trying to discredit Pac’s spectacularly explosive and sensationally exciting recent wins?
If Floyd were so confident, as you would expect the self-proclaimed greatest fighter ever to be, he should not be worried about Pacquiao in any way, after all, it’s going to be an easy fight. Floyd should not have to bother with trying to downplay Pac’s finest performances, because Pac is just a good little fighter, right? And Floyd is the best fighter ever, right?
Bluffs and smokescreens are 90% of boxing, says Michaell Bentt.
I believe Floyd fully knows Pacquiao is his worst nightmare and is only going to agree to the fight (let’s hope) on March 13 because he is totally cornered and has no way to escape this time. Pressure from HBO, the media, fans, and the amount of money involved are forcing Floyd to take the fight he really would rather, as Ellerbe told me this past summer, “never, ever” accept for 50-50.
This time Floyd can’t fake retire or go to MMA or WWE, he has to finally do something he has never ever done – something he has avoided his entire career – FIGHT THE VERY BEST.
Mike Tyson says a scared fighter is a dangerous fighter. And if Floyd decides to go through with it (we know Pac will for sure), Floyd will be fighting scared. Of course not with his knees knocking-frightened, but very defensive-oriented and with adrenaline. Floyd will be acutely sharp and more pumped up than ever to avoid getting slaughtered by Pacquiao, who he knows has extraordinary firepower in his fists. Floyd knows Manny is a man of magic and will have to be at his best.
But in all of these superfights I’ve been fortunate enough to cover and study, whenever one man has clearly shown signs of not really wanting the fight as much as the other, the less enthusiastic and less confident warrior always loses. Always. And I can think of not one exception.
Some examples: Cotto taking the extra month longer to finally sign the contract than Margarito. Holyfield delaying unification with Lennox Lewis for over a year, then demanding $15 million. Then when that figure was agreed to, Holyfield suddenly and shockingly raised his bluff demand to $20 million! (Lewis began calling Holyfield “Evader.”) The Byrd-Wladimir Klitschko rematch which was delayed an extra 12 months by Byrd. Roy Jones with the protection of HBO, tried to avoid the Tarver rematch with HBO offering a doubleheader of Jones-Johnson & Tarver-Gonzalez, which Tarver vociferously argued against, until Jones finally accepted the rematch and was later KOed in the second round.
I am quite sure the mental edge is held firmly by Pacquiao now. And there have been other minute clues from Floyd which further support this judgement: Floyd’s own father advised his son to avoid Pacquiao. Floyd referred to his reign of dominance on “Joe Buck Live” in the past tense. Floyd also said on that show that “like a police officer, one shot could end” a boxer’s career. Floyd called Pacquiao a “one dimensional” and “a good little fighter,” but if that’s all Pacquiao is, then why all the hesitation and reluctance to close the deal?
And last but not least, there is the historical quotation which perfectly applies to this fight: “The exalted shall be humbled, and the humbled shall be exalted.”
There’s no question, in my view, Manny Pacquiao has gained the vitally important psychological advantage over Floyd Mayweather. And as Angelo Dundee once said, Once you win the psychological fight, the physical fight becomes much easier to win.”
Scoop’s book “Heavyweight Armageddon: The Tyson-Lewis Championship Battle” was called “A smashing success,” by Emanuel Steward, “One of the two best boxing books I ever read.”
Applying this Vitali theory to Pacquiao vs. Mayweather, I believe Pacquiao holds a distinct and considerable psychological advantage right now. Allow me to explain and take you through some of the key exchanges that have created this important imbalance.
One of the first moves occured unexpectedly at the Mayweather-Marquez New York press conference. Leonard Ellerbe tapped me on the shoulder and wanted to explain some things to me one on one. Ellerbe hoped to try to straighten me out, as one of Floyd’s most ardent critics. A gentleman and classy man at all times, unlike his boss, Ellerbe told me, among other things, that Floyd would “never ever” fight Pacquiao for 50-50. I will never forget how vehemently he stressed the “never” and “ever,” which signaled to me right then and there that no matter how much money was involved, they were not interested in Pacquiao. In other words, they already knew how dangerously risky Pac was to Floyd and they were going to use the 50-50 as their out from the fight.
This was even before Cotto was annihilated by Pacquiao. Now I know it’s the truth that Floyd avoided Cotto in 2008 – Ellerbe said Cotto wasn’t a big enough name and his numbers weren’t big enough. But no matter what they say now or then, you just know Floyd had to be freaked out when he saw what Pac unleashed on Cotto.
Don’t forget, Floyd’s initial stance after Cotto was destroyed by Pac was expressed in that BBC interview (laying groundwork for Matthew Hatton London fight?) where Floyd floated all the excuses and reasons of why he didn’t have to fight Pac (Pac lost twice by KO, he beat Marquez more decisively than Pac did, He beat Oscar and Hatton first.) While many Floyd defenders assumed he was just trying to gain leverage for negotiations, this assumption is incorrect. Because Floyd came down from the 60-40 to 50-50 without much dickering. Floyd revealed at this time that he really wasn’t up for Pacquiao, like you would have expected him to be if he were so assured of victory. To the contrary, he was emitting negative vibes about taking the superfight.
Then Floyd made many more statements which indicated more negativity to the idea of fighting Pac in potentially the biggest fight of all time, though Ellerbe was running around saying it would be an easy fight for Floyd. If it was an easy win for Floyd, then why did Floyd say: It was a no win situation for him; He would flip-flop on his previous duck of Mosley and fight Mosley next if Mosley beats Berto (which would be a smaller money fight than Pac); He wanted to fight Matthew Hatton next in England (which is also a much less lucrative fight than Pac); He implied that Pac must be on some kind of performance enhancers. If it’s an easy fight, why would Floyd be trying to discredit Pac’s spectacularly explosive and sensationally exciting recent wins?
If Floyd were so confident, as you would expect the self-proclaimed greatest fighter ever to be, he should not be worried about Pacquiao in any way, after all, it’s going to be an easy fight. Floyd should not have to bother with trying to downplay Pac’s finest performances, because Pac is just a good little fighter, right? And Floyd is the best fighter ever, right?
Bluffs and smokescreens are 90% of boxing, says Michaell Bentt.
I believe Floyd fully knows Pacquiao is his worst nightmare and is only going to agree to the fight (let’s hope) on March 13 because he is totally cornered and has no way to escape this time. Pressure from HBO, the media, fans, and the amount of money involved are forcing Floyd to take the fight he really would rather, as Ellerbe told me this past summer, “never, ever” accept for 50-50.
This time Floyd can’t fake retire or go to MMA or WWE, he has to finally do something he has never ever done – something he has avoided his entire career – FIGHT THE VERY BEST.
Mike Tyson says a scared fighter is a dangerous fighter. And if Floyd decides to go through with it (we know Pac will for sure), Floyd will be fighting scared. Of course not with his knees knocking-frightened, but very defensive-oriented and with adrenaline. Floyd will be acutely sharp and more pumped up than ever to avoid getting slaughtered by Pacquiao, who he knows has extraordinary firepower in his fists. Floyd knows Manny is a man of magic and will have to be at his best.
But in all of these superfights I’ve been fortunate enough to cover and study, whenever one man has clearly shown signs of not really wanting the fight as much as the other, the less enthusiastic and less confident warrior always loses. Always. And I can think of not one exception.
Some examples: Cotto taking the extra month longer to finally sign the contract than Margarito. Holyfield delaying unification with Lennox Lewis for over a year, then demanding $15 million. Then when that figure was agreed to, Holyfield suddenly and shockingly raised his bluff demand to $20 million! (Lewis began calling Holyfield “Evader.”) The Byrd-Wladimir Klitschko rematch which was delayed an extra 12 months by Byrd. Roy Jones with the protection of HBO, tried to avoid the Tarver rematch with HBO offering a doubleheader of Jones-Johnson & Tarver-Gonzalez, which Tarver vociferously argued against, until Jones finally accepted the rematch and was later KOed in the second round.
I am quite sure the mental edge is held firmly by Pacquiao now. And there have been other minute clues from Floyd which further support this judgement: Floyd’s own father advised his son to avoid Pacquiao. Floyd referred to his reign of dominance on “Joe Buck Live” in the past tense. Floyd also said on that show that “like a police officer, one shot could end” a boxer’s career. Floyd called Pacquiao a “one dimensional” and “a good little fighter,” but if that’s all Pacquiao is, then why all the hesitation and reluctance to close the deal?
And last but not least, there is the historical quotation which perfectly applies to this fight: “The exalted shall be humbled, and the humbled shall be exalted.”
There’s no question, in my view, Manny Pacquiao has gained the vitally important psychological advantage over Floyd Mayweather. And as Angelo Dundee once said, Once you win the psychological fight, the physical fight becomes much easier to win.”
Scoop’s book “Heavyweight Armageddon: The Tyson-Lewis Championship Battle” was called “A smashing success,” by Emanuel Steward, “One of the two best boxing books I ever read.”
Vegas chsen site of Pacman megafight o
MANILA, Philippines - It didn’t come as a surprise that the Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather fight did land in Las Vegas.
“As far as we know it’s always been Vegas,” said Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, yesterday when news broke out that promoters have already agreed to stage the fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Koncz, who was with Pacquiao yesterday afternoon, said he expects an announcement to come very soon as to the final details of the fight that is scheduled to take place on March 13.
The state-of-the-art Cowboys Stadium in Dallas made a spirited bid to host the fight, probably the biggest in boxing history, and owner Jerry Jones reportedly made a $25 million offer to get it there.
But Vegas is just the place to hold a fight of this magnitude.
“There’s no other place to hold it than Vegas. With all the casinos and the high-rollers coming over, it’s just hard to match. Nasa Vegas ang pera (The money is in Vegas),” said Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal.
“It’s the MGM. It’s definite,” an article that came out of fanhouse.com quoted a source as saying, and that the choice was based on both fighters’ “familiarity with the location as well as their past success there.”
According to reports, the MGM Grand could generate as much as $28 million in live-gate sales. Also in store are 40,000 closed-circuit seats through MGM/Mirage properties, and at $100 a head could present a total package of $32 million.
And that’s enough to quash Dallas’ $25 million offer.
Pacquiao has fought six times at the MGM Grand, winning four (against Lehlo Ledwaba, Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto), losing once to Erik Morales and drawing once with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Mayweather, on the other hand, has fought six times at the MGM during his unbeaten run of 40 fights. His wins at MGM came against Gregorio Vargas, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Dela Hoya, Hatton and Marquez.
The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is expected to generate more than $100 million, and both fighters, guaranteed of at least $25 million each, could get as much as $40 million when everything comes in.
A press conference, a major one, is scheduled Jan. 6 in New York and two days after another one will take place in Los Angeles. There will be no press tour for this fight which the whole world wants to see.
The fight is set at 147 lb and Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight crown, which he took from Cotto last month, will be at stake. They will use 8-ounce gloves, and both camps have also agreed to random drug testing weeks leading to the fight.
There’s no confirmation whether both fighters have signed the fight contract, but now that it’s all been agreed upon, there’s no reason for them to hold back and get it done.
“As far as we know it’s always been Vegas,” said Pacquiao’s adviser, Mike Koncz, yesterday when news broke out that promoters have already agreed to stage the fight at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Koncz, who was with Pacquiao yesterday afternoon, said he expects an announcement to come very soon as to the final details of the fight that is scheduled to take place on March 13.
The state-of-the-art Cowboys Stadium in Dallas made a spirited bid to host the fight, probably the biggest in boxing history, and owner Jerry Jones reportedly made a $25 million offer to get it there.
But Vegas is just the place to hold a fight of this magnitude.
“There’s no other place to hold it than Vegas. With all the casinos and the high-rollers coming over, it’s just hard to match. Nasa Vegas ang pera (The money is in Vegas),” said Pacquiao’s lawyer, Franklin Gacal.
“It’s the MGM. It’s definite,” an article that came out of fanhouse.com quoted a source as saying, and that the choice was based on both fighters’ “familiarity with the location as well as their past success there.”
According to reports, the MGM Grand could generate as much as $28 million in live-gate sales. Also in store are 40,000 closed-circuit seats through MGM/Mirage properties, and at $100 a head could present a total package of $32 million.
And that’s enough to quash Dallas’ $25 million offer.
Pacquiao has fought six times at the MGM Grand, winning four (against Lehlo Ledwaba, Oscar dela Hoya, Ricky Hatton and Miguel Cotto), losing once to Erik Morales and drawing once with Juan Manuel Marquez.
Mayweather, on the other hand, has fought six times at the MGM during his unbeaten run of 40 fights. His wins at MGM came against Gregorio Vargas, Diego Corrales, Jose Luis Castillo, Dela Hoya, Hatton and Marquez.
The Pacquiao-Mayweather fight is expected to generate more than $100 million, and both fighters, guaranteed of at least $25 million each, could get as much as $40 million when everything comes in.
A press conference, a major one, is scheduled Jan. 6 in New York and two days after another one will take place in Los Angeles. There will be no press tour for this fight which the whole world wants to see.
The fight is set at 147 lb and Pacquiao’s WBO welterweight crown, which he took from Cotto last month, will be at stake. They will use 8-ounce gloves, and both camps have also agreed to random drug testing weeks leading to the fight.
There’s no confirmation whether both fighters have signed the fight contract, but now that it’s all been agreed upon, there’s no reason for them to hold back and get it done.
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