INSIDE BOXING "THE FIGHT IS OFF!"...for now
SPECIAL REPORT
BY STEPHEN S. JOHNSON
(IB-JANUARY 7, 2009) "The fight is off! Mayweather never wanted to fight my guy. In 2008 he (Mayweather) had an opportunity to make millions of dollars in a rematch with Oscar de ls hoya and he walked away from that. He has never taken a fight with Shane Mosley, Antonio Margarito or Miguel Cotto. He has always taken on fighters he knew he could beat. He is a coward. We made concessions (blood-draw within 24 days of the fight) and he still won't fight."...Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.
With these (allegedly) last words, it seems that the Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather, Jr. fight is over....or is it?
There is always the chance that Mayweather, Jr. and Golden Boy Productions will reconsider both of their financial stakes in the mega-fight and re institute negotiations. The media deadline of next week will be the final death knoll for the fight. When scheduled press conferences in New York are cancelled, then we can consider the fight to be at an impasse.
Bob Arum had plenty to say regarding the decision that Golden Boy Productions and Mayweather, Jr. had relayed to mediating judge Daniel Weinstein late Wednesday evening.
"Judge Weinstein informed me around 8 pm last night that the fight is off. It wasn't a big surprise to me because Mayweather, Jr., from the very beginning, was never gonna fight Pacquiao. When we informed them the March 13th date would be fine, everyone got to see him start to backtrack. The fight is off and Manny Pacquiao will continue the process of clearing his name through the legal system".
Manny Pacquiao released a statement that read in part, "I am saddened that the fight between myself and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will not happen. The people wanted to see the fight and everything was done, on our part, to make that happen. I will continue my lawsuit against the Mayweather family members, Golden Boy Productions, Oscar de la hoya and Richard Schaefer, who have all conspired to ruin both my name and reputation with numerous falsehoods and that is my focus right now".
I'm not sure what to believe..on one hand we have allegations that Floyd "Money" Mayweather may not be deserving of the moniker "Money". Were that to be the case, wouldn't Mayweather make any/all concessions, take the fight and (win or lose) have $30-$40 million dollars? The IRS, Chase Manhattan and any other debts could easily be erased with that amount of money, right?
On the other hand Manny Pacquiao gives the impression the naming of him, and more importantly his home country of the Philippines, as being involved with and promoting the use of performance enhancing drugs to be unacceptable. The demands of a public apology from GBP, Schaefer, de la hoya and the Mayweather's was thought to be a major part of the mediation process but was it?
Did Manny Pacquiao and Bob Arum (Top Rank) give the "3 conspirators" the ultimatum of APOLOGIZE OR THE FIGHT IS OFF? Would Pacquiao convince Arum that losing some $30-$40 million dollars did not mean nearly as much as his (and his country's') reputation? Would the Filipino people swallow their pride when coming to realize the advantage some $30-$40 million dollars could do for their economy?
The possible scenarios for both side seem like a "no brainer". Maybe all the parties involved DO have a case of pride and ego that none thought would keep either from saying "show me the money".
The probability of this fight being conducted in Las Vegas on March 13th has become remote.
Regarding this fight, I don't know if "The fat lady's' singing", but she is humming pretty loud...
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