By Osman Rodriguez
WBC welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (42-0, 26KOs) has once again explained his position on why he refuses to offer Manny Pacquiao, the WBO king, a even 50-50 split for a potential mega-fight. A few months ago, the two boxers actually spoke for a few brief minutes on the telephone. Mayweather offered Pacquiao a flat-fee of $40 million dollars, while the Filipino superstar countered back with a demand for a 50-50 split.
During his HBO televised appearance on "Speaking Out," with author Michael Eric Dyson, the boxer stated "I offered him $40 million. He came back and said he wanted 50-50. If you are not doing Floyd Mayweather numbers in the box office or at the gate.....if you are not doing record breaking numbers at the gate....[then] how can you possibly ask for 50-50?”
Mayweather returns on May 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, challenging WBA 154-pound champion Miguel Cotto. Pacquiao comes back on June 9th, also at the MGM Grand, against unbeaten Timothy Bradley.
Should both of the superstars win their upcoming bouts, the boxing world hungers for a fall showdown - but the monetary dispute will likely prevent that fight from happening. Mayweather has made it clear, once again, that he won't back down from his flat-fee offer of $40 million dollars. And Pacquiao refuses to accept the fight unless the two boxers agree to a 50-50 split on the money.
"My offer is what it is and my offer won’t change. I am not budging. $40 million is what you are getting, either you take it or you leave it. Like I said before, Manny Pacquiao needs Floyd Mayweather. Floyd Mayweather doesn’t need Manny Pacquiao,” Mayweather said.
