MANILA, Philippines - Manny Pacquiao is not jumping with joy but is rather cautious after he met and sat down with Floyd Mayweather Jr. the other night in Miami.
It was completely accidental that the two boxers met at the Miami Heat game because Pacquiao was supposed to fly out after judging the Miss Universe pageant.
But Pacquiao and his wife Jinkee couldn’t book business-class tickets out of Miami. So, they opted to watch the Miami Heat game and the chance meeting with Mayweather took place.
Later on, Mayweather and Pacquiao met again and sat down inside Pacquiao’s hotel suite. They talked for over an hour.
Pacquiao spoke to ABS-CBN but his lips were sealed.
“Huwag na muna. Baka mapurnada pa (Not now. It might jeopardize the situation),” said Pacquiao, who’s been chasing Mayweather the past five or six years now.
Pacquiao’s chief adviser, Mike Koncz, had a lengthy interview with www.fighthype.com.
Koncz did the talking.
“I think it was a very productive discussion. I like to call it a discussion, one-on-one with me, Floyd, and Manny, than a meeting,” he said.
They spoke about the negotiations between Showtime and HBO and in a separate interview with the Los Angeles Times, Koncz said things are moving positively.
It appears that there’s already some agreement between the two giant cable providers. Showtime airs Mayweather fights and HBO does it for Pacquiao.
Showtime and HBO had agreed on doing one-hour specials on their respective fighters, and Koncz added there might be no need for those multi-segment programs like All-Access and 24/7.
Also being discussed is the issue on who would work the fight commentary if and when it happens. Showtime has Al Bernstein and Maurol Ranallo while HBO has Jim Lampley and Max Kellerman.
Pacquiao said it was “God’s will” that he met Mayweather in Miami.
Because for many years now, those who want the fight to happen have longed to see the two boxing superstars work things out.
Koncz described Mayweather as “very sincere” and told the LA Times he’s taking things as they are.
“The real measure of that (meeting) is if we can come to an agreement,” he told Lance Pugmire.
Mayweather said he wants the fight with Pacquiao on May 2 at the MGM Grand.