By Robert Jackson: For the current round of negotiations to get a Mayweather/Pacquiao fight done, Top Rank – representatives for Manny Pacquiao and Golden Boy Promotions – representatives for Floyd ‘Money’ Mayweather decided collectively not to negotiate in the media. A ‘gag’ order was put in place to prevent inside information leaked to the media from preventing the fight to be made.

In the past three weeks inside information emanating from Team Pacquiao including “Mayweather wants a 60/40 split”, has hit the airwaves. Top Rank boss Bob Arum has also made comments that seem to go against the agreed upon ‘gag’ order – “Pacquiao has agreed to testing the ball is now in Mayweather’s court”!

With all of the speculation surrounding the progress of the negotiations, Mayweather himself and his team have gone silent, incommunicado perse. Last week, during a ‘make a wish’ charitable contribution session from Mayweather to an ailing fan, which was videotaped, Mayweather speculated that he may take another year or two hiatus from the ring. The timing of that hiatus was not detailed. It was assumed by Top Rank that a press release would be forthcoming announcing Mayweather’s retirement from the ring if the hiatus talked about by Mayweather holds true. It is also assumed by MANY Mayweather detractors and naysayers that the ‘gag’ order has been VIOLATED by Mayweather for making such a statement.

Nowhere during the present negotiations has anyone on the Mayweather side made any public statements regarding the status or particulars of the ongoing talks. ONLY the Pacquiao side has contributed any information in the form of leaks, statements (mentioned above), and in the case of Pacquiao strength and conditioning coach Alex Ariza, he was chastised by coach Freddie Roach for negative comments made towards the USADA and their testing program.

Boxing is a sport that garners many emotions from its devoted followers and any pugilistic endeavor that Floyd Mayweather participates in will be highly anticipated. Critics are now saying that Mayweather is AFRAID to face Pacquiao, based on the leaked information provided by Pacquiao insiders. I say lets wait until all of the particulars are worked out before passing judgment. Worst case if the fight is not made the opponents that both men fight next will say more about who did what or who failed at the negotiating table then any WELL TIMED information leak to the media; whose only purpose is to discredit the other guy and may ultimately be the reason that the fight cannot be made.