By John F. McKenna (McJack): Boxing superstar undefeated WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26 KO’s) has been offered a 70-30 split to the winner by the camp of World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao (54-3-2, 38 KO’s). The offer was confirmed to GMA news online by Pacquiao business advisor Rex “Wakee” Salud.
The 70-30 split is the latest offer given by an increasingly frustrated Pacquiao, and demonstrates his willingness to negotiate in an effort to make the long anticipated fight between himself and Mayweather happen.
The financial breakdown has become a huge stumbling block put out by the Mayweather camp. Previously the Olympic style drug testing was thought to be the main issue preventing the Mega Bucks fight from happening. That issue however, was removed when “Pacman” agreed to the drug testing “Money” Mayweather had insisted on. According to Floyd his insistence on Olympic style drug testing is an effort to level the playing field between himself and his opponents. Mayweather has also stated that the drug testing he requires will help clean up the sport of boxing.
Now that the drug testing issue has been put to bed Mayweather is holding tough on his demand to keep all the Pay Per View (PPV) income generated by the fight. A few weeks ago Floyd made a call to Pacquiao in which he offered him a flat $40 million guarantee to fight him while keeping the entire PPV revenue for himself. Pacquiao turned the offer down, referring to it as embarrassing.
It is thought that the PPV revenue for a Mayweather – Pacquiao fight would exceed $160 million dollars. In Mayweather’s mind he deserves to keep all of it. The idea that a fighter who has won championships in eight weight divisions, in addition to being named fighter of the year for 2006, 2008 and 2009 and fighter of the decade for 2000 – 2009 should not receive an even split with any fighter is ludicrous. Pacquiao’s PPV buys for his last three fights exceeds Mayweather’s as do the live gate receipts for his fights.
No one questions that Floyd Mayweather Jr. is a great fighter and in the minds of many boxing observers, including this writer, he would emerge victorious if he were to fight Pacquiao. Whether he cares to admit it or not however his legacy will be tarnished if he never fights the other superstar of his generation.
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