MANILA, Philippines - Boxing observers and fans can probably kiss goodbye their hopes for a megafight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. to happen this year.
This after Mayweather himself expressed doubt that a fight with Pacquiao will be made following the undefeated American’s bout with Miguel Cotto next month.
“No, I don’t think it (Mayweather-Pacquiao fight) is going to happen,” Mayweather said in an article by Lance Pugmire of The Los Angeles Times.
For a long time, boxing fans have been clamoring for a showdown between two of the best boxers in the world. Several negotiations to put the fight together have failed, with the Pacquiao and Mayweather camps blaming each other for various reasons.
There was Mayweather’s demand for an Olympic-style drug testing to be conducted prior to the fight – something Pacquiao initially balked at but eventually agreed to do. Then came the issue of the purse split, with Mayweather insisting to get a larger piece of pie than the logical 50-50 sharing.
But Mayweather singled out one person as being the cause for the failed talks.
“It’s because of Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum. It’s not my fault,” he said.
Both fighters ended up with different opponents, with Pacquiao taking on Timothy Bradley roughly a month after Mayweather faces Cotto.
Meanwhile, the trainers of Pacquiao and Mayweather were one in saying their wards should meet in the ring soon.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach said Pacquiao fighting Mayweather would be the most logical move for both stars.
“There’s nowhere else for them to go,” Roach said.
For his part, Mayweather’s chief cornerman and uncle Roger Mayweather insisted that his nephew will have little trouble disposing of Pacquiao.
“Why wouldn’t you? There ain’t no way that guy (Pacquiao) lasts five rounds against my nephew,” the brash trainer declared.