By John F. McKenna (McJack): In an interview with ES News Top Rank promoter Bob Arum blasted Floyd “Money” Mayweather (41-0, 25 KO’S) and accused him of being afraid to fight Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (53-3-2, 38 KO’s).
Arum also made reference to Mayweather’s claim that he had signed a contract in the past as “Alice in Wonderland” and said he never saw any contract. Arum went on to say that “It is not rocket science to get a contract signed.”
Arum stated that Juan Manuel Marquez went to La with his attorney and took care of getting his contract to fight Pacquiao quickly and in a professional way. Arum also said that the reports that Pacquiao had been injected with an illegal substance by a Filipino sparring partner was a pure fabrication. Arum went on to say that Manny had agreed to be drug tested and that Mayweather continues to bring it up as if it were still an issue. Arum said that if Floyd really wanted to fight Pacquiao the fight would happen, but at this point he feels that Mayweather is more concerned with protecting his (41-0) record. Arum said that he doubts if Mayweather will ever get into the ring with Pacquiao, not because he fears that Pacquiao will physically beat him up, but that he does not want to risk losing his perfect record. The world famous promoter said that even great fighters lose and many of them became better fighters after losing a fight. In the interview Arum made it clear that he places the blame for a Mayweather – Pacquiao fight not taking place squarely on the shoulders of Floyd Mayweather.
Europe’s most prominent promoter for the last thirty years, Frank Warren has said that Mayweather is playing mind games with the drug testing issue. Warren also stated that Bob Arum is a good and honorable man and that he is not the reason that a Mayweather – Pacquiao fight has not taken place. When Arum made a deadline for Mayweather to agree to the contract in the previous negotiations for a Mayweather – Pacquiao fight, Arum had had enough of Mayweather’s antics and called a halt to negotiations and moved on. Warren feels that even if every other issue were met that a major stumbling block would be Floyd’s insistence that he get more than a 50-50 split because he sees himself as being the bigger draw. Warren believes that if this Mega Fight were to take place it would be worth $200 million dollars. Warren was quoted as saying that “there were times when he felt that Floyd Mayweather was doing his best not to make the fight.” Warren also believes that Mayweather picked and chose who he would fight over the years and that he should have fought Mosley before his abilities began to wane. Warren also said that if the Mayweather – Pacquiao fight were to take place he believes it could top three million PPV. The Mayweather – De La Hoya fight did 2.25 million buys so this fight would eclipse that fight by far. Warren believes, as Bob Arum does, that Mayweather has gone out of his way to come up with one excuse after the other to prevent this fight from happening and that he will continue to put up one road block after another.
Arum has also said that Mayweather will only offer to fight Pacquiao after Manny is retired and fully engrossed in his political career. Arum was quoted as saying that when that time comes Floyd will say “Hey, let’s fight! Your ducking me!” and then he will change the record and attempt to make it appear that Manny is the reason that the fight did not taken place.
What you have here are two of boxing’s foremost promoters pretty much putting the blame on Floyd Mayweather as to why this fight has not taken place and perhaps never will.
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