MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao will protect himself at all times if and when he gets inside the ring with Floyd Mayweather Jr.
But the undefeated American, who proclaims himself as the greatest fighter ever, said it doesn’t mean he can’t find the opening to stop the Filipino champion.
“He’s a pressure fighter,” the 34-year-old Mayweather told www.boxingscene.com.
“But there are a lot of mistakes that he makes and you cannot make those mistakes against Floyd Mayweather. If you make those mistakes, you have to pay,” he added.
Victor Ortiz, who fought Mayweather last September, made a terrible mistake by dropping his guards after a break.
Without him looking, Ortiz took two solid punches from Mayweather, and was counted out by referee Joe Cortez. Mayweather said the referee had ordered them to fight.
The way Mayweather spoke regarding Pacquiao making many mistakes it’s like the superfight against Pacquiao has been sealed, signed and delivered -- when in truth it’s not.
But what has once again aroused the curiosity of fight fans was the fact that Mayweather and Pacquiao, who can’t seem to find solutions to all their differences, spoke over the phone the other day.
Pacquiao told The STAR it was Mayweather who called, and that they spoke briefly on the phone.
“I told him we should do the fight. But it has to be fifty-fifty (share). Yes, we talked, and I hope the fight finally pushes through,” said Pacquiao.
Pacquiao said the ball is now in the hands of Mayweather.
However, it was also reported yesterday that Mayweather is turning down an offer of a 50-50 split with Pacquiao.
Because Pacquiao said he can’t go any lower than fifty percent, and if Mayweather, as some insiders are expecting, asks for the moon, then the fight won’t happen.
“Basta fifty-fifty,” said Pacquiao.
The two fighters can get at least $50 million each if they fight. The superfight, which could be held on May 5, late in May or June 9 in Las Vegas, can generate as much as $200 million in revenues.
But if Mayweather would insist on getting more, like $60 million or $70 million, that would leave Pacquiao with very little meat on the bone.
Bob Arum said while it’s good to hear that Mayweather and Pacquiao spoke on the phone, there’s nothing really significant that took place.
“This talk about 50-50 has been going on for a while. It’s just that this was the first time they spoke to each other on the phone,” said Arum.
The Top Rank chief wasn’t too excited over the phone conversation which lasted two minutes.
In fact, he already has a Plan B in case Mayweather doesn’t come along, and it involves a Pacquiao fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, Miguel Cotto, Tim Bradley or Lamont Peterson.
Some say Cotto has the inside track among the four.
A development should come in the coming days. Again, the whole world is waiting.