MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao was in London to dine with Prince Harry and meet with his potential opponent, Amir Khan.
Floyd Mayweather Jr. was at Staples Center to watch an NBA game between the LA Clippers and the Brooklyn Nets.
Pacquiao enjoyed a warm welcome. He and wife Jinkee had pictures taken with Prince Harry, whom he gifted with signed boxing gloves.
Then last Friday he met Khan at the Fitzroy Lodge Boxing Club. They must have talked about a potential fight between them.
There’s word that Pacquiao may fight Khan, his former sparring partner, at Wembley Stadium or in the Middle East if not Las Vegas.
It could happen between April and June and if Mayweather vs Pacquiao falls off.
Mail Online reported that as Mayweather sat on VIP row with Beyonce and rapper-record producer Jay-Z, the crowd chanted, “We want Pacquiao! We want Pacquiao!”
Everybody’s looking forward to the super fight and depending on who’s talking, the fight is either very close to happening or still a long way off.
Pacquiao said he has agreed to the details of the fight. His promoter, Bob Arum, said they’ve signed off on their side of the contract.
Arum said all that’s needed now is Mayweather’s signature.
But Stephen Espinoza, executive vice president of Showtime Sports, said there’s no such thing.
“What the hell is everyone signing???” said Espinoza on his Twitter account.
Yes, he said, talks are on, but no one has been asked to sign anything.
“Signing what? No contract has been drafted yet,” he said.
Showtime, which is on Mayweather’s side, and HBO, on Pacquiao’s side, are trying to put the fight together, and it’s not easy.
Espinoza was asked on Twitter, “How much of the 100-meter dash is left?” in the negotiations, and he replied, “38 meters.”