Mayweather strategy: When all else fails blame Arum

By Boxing News - 05/07/2012 - Comments

Image: Mayweather strategy: When all else fails blame ArumBy John F. McKenna (McJack): Undefeated superstar and new WBA light middleweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (43-0, 26 KO’s) is fresh off of Saturday nights harder than expected win over former champion Miguel Cotto (37-3, 30 KO’s). But “Money May” did not waste any time in verbally attacking his long time enemy Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.

Let’s face it, boxing promoters rank right up there with used car salesman in their popularity and make easy targets for the likes of Floyd Mayweather Jr. Arum and Mayweather formerly worked together but have been bitter enemies since their breakup in 2006.

Floyd began with the old standby of drug testing as a reason the mega fight between Pacquiao and himself has not yet happened. All Manny needed to do was “take the test”. That excuse now runs hollow when it is clear that “Pacman” agreed to do the drug testing required by Mayweather months ago. But Floyd was just getting started.

After his victory over Cotto on Saturday night Mayweather was quoted by Phil STAR.com SPORTS HUB saying the following:

“The truth is Bob Arum is not going to let the fight happen. It’s not on me.”

Arum responded by calling Mayweather’s charges nonsense, and responded by saying:

“Over a week ago he was saying he doesn’t want to fight Manny. And on Saturday he was saying he wants the fight.

“It’s all nonsense, all nonsense. Obviously he doesn’t want the fight. So how can you believe him now?

Mayweather’s refusal to accept a 50/50 split of the proceeds with Pacquiao is now another one of the reasons that Floyd puts out there for the non happening of the mega fight. “Money” believes that Manny should accept the $40 million that the Mayweather camp had previously offered him.

The reality is however that a flat $40 million offer to Pacquiao is ludicrous. The Pay Per View (PPV) alone for such a fight it is thought would bring in an estimated $150 million.

Under Floyd’s “generous” offer Manny would receive none of the PPV or live gate revenue.

And the insinuation that a fighter who has won world titles in eight weight divisions as well as being named Fighter of the Decade and Fighter of the Year for three years is not worthy of a 50/50 split is equally ludicrous in addition to being insulting.

There is an old saying in real estate which goes something like this: “If you really don’t want to sell your house, price it so high that nobody will want it.” It now appears that “Money May” has placed himself out of reach, perhaps on purpose.



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