MANILA, Philippines - Just to make it happen, Manny Pacquiao once again said he will accept the smaller share of the purse against Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“I’m waiting for that fight to happen. I don’t know what’s the reason why that fight has not happened,” Pacquiao told ESPN2’s “First Take” yesterday.
“It’s OK for me if he gets a higher percentage than me,” he added.
Pacquiao is in the tailend of a quick three-city press tour for his fourth clash with Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez on Dec. 8 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
But everywhere he goes, Pacquiao is faced with questions about the fight the world has been waiting for, the superfight against the undefeated Mayweather.
If it happens, the fight could generate more than a hundred million dollars in sales and should break and surpass all existing records in boxing revenue-wise.
Both Mayweather and Pacquiao stand to earn more than they’ve ever earned before for a single fight or more than what any other boxing star could earn in a lifetime.
One of Pacquiao’s close associates said they expect the 33-year-old fighting congressman to earn no less than $60 million for a Mayweather fight.
But that was far from what’s in the mind of the flamboyant American, who last year spoke to Pacquiao on the phone and offered the latter a flat rate of $40 million.
Mayweather said if Pacquiao agreed to this, they can have the fight done. But he made it clear that Pacquiao will no longer have any share from the huge pay-per-view sales.
“Is that the way to do business? If I agree to that, he will laugh at my back,” said Pacquiao then.
But it seems that Pacquiao is serious in saying he’s willing to get 45 percent of everything.
Pacquiao also said he’s open to random drug testing, which also provided the big stumbling block in the previous negotiations.
“No problem. Whatever he wants to do,” he told the ESPN show.
“No problem. Even the night of the fight. No problem,” Pacquiao said. He also said the other day he’s far from hanging up his gloves.
“I’m still young. I still have a couple of years left,” he told BBC News.
The ball is now in the hands of Mayweather.