By Mark Vester
Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer has a hard task ahead; negotiating on behalf of Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a possible showdown with Manny Pacquiao in 2010. He says the fight is something that has to happen. He is confident that a deal can be reached with Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum of Top Rank. Both fighters are known for their tough tactics at the table. This fight is no different because both guys want more than 50% of the money. Mayweather did over 1 million pay-per-view buys for September's bout with Juan Manuel Marquez. Pacquiao's numbers for Saturday's bout with Miguel Cotto will not be released for a few more days. The numbers will play a big role in the talks.
"Bob and me -- how often have we failed to make a big fight? How did Pacquiao-Marquez do versus Mayweather-Marquez? How did Pacquiao-Oscar do versus Floyd-Oscar?" Schaefer told the Los Angeles Times. "Getting them together is a mega-fight that has to be made. We'd all have to be morons to not let this happen."
HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg agrees with Schaefer and he plans to encourage both sides to make the fight happen.
"It's a simple negotiation," Greenburg said. "There's so much money to be made. If it doesn't happen, there'll be a revolt. Nothing else is acceptable, and I'm speaking on behalf of the American public and the sport itself. All we can do is try to encourage both sides to sit at a table and hammer out a deal."
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