MANILA, Philippines - Ang pagpasok sa eksena ni promoter Don King ang lumikha ng intriga ukol sa katayuan ni Floyd Mayweather, Jr. sa Golden Boy Promotions ni Oscar Dela Hoya.
Ikinainis ni Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer ang pakikialam ng 78-anyos na si King sa 33-anyos na si Mayweather, kasama na rito ang pag-imbita ni King kay Mayweather sa kanyang bahay sa Florida para sa isang hapunan at ang panonood sa HBO-televised main event nina WBC at IBF light welterweight champion Devon Alexander at dating WBA king Andriy Kotelnik sa Scottrade Center sa St. Louis.
Inihayag ni King, dating promoter ni world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson, na kaya niyang hawakan ang boxing career ni Mayweather sa kabila ng pagiging co-promoter ng Mayweather Promotions at ng Golden Boy Promotions.
Siniguro rin ni King na makukumbinse niya si Mayweather na sagupain ang 31-anyos na Filipino world-seven division king na si Pacquiao matapos bumagsak ng dalawang beses ang negosasyon para sa kanilang megafight.
Ayon kay Schaefer, ang malaking pera na iaakyat ni Mayweather ang asam ni King.
“As it relates to paying fighters, I think that our track record speaks for itself. So, I’m going leave it at that. If somebody wants to make the most money, they know exactly where to come, and that’s to Golden Boy. That’s why all of the free agents come to us,” ani Schaefer.
Sinabi ng Golden Boy official na kumita si Mayweather ng halos $120 milyon bilang boxer at co-promoter.
Kumpiyansa si King na kaya nilang itakda ni Bob Arum ng Top Rank Promotions ang Pacquiao-Mayweather showdown.
“I want to get Floyd, and not anything else. And in getting Floyd, that brings in all fights. If I can achieve that relationship, then everything that comes from that will be accessible and available,” ani King.
Bitbit ni Pacquiao ang 51-3-2 win-loss-draw ring record kasama ang 38 KOs, habang dala ni Mayweather ang 41-0-0 (25 KOs) slate.
“I’m not shooting for anything individually such as a Manny Pacquiao fight. It would be me and Floyd and me and Bob. I can take Mayweather and fight anybody and he could be a people’s champion.”