Ross Greenburg: "I Really Don't Know Why Floyd Didn't Want The Fight"

Ross Greenburg 'Optimistic' Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao Will Happen' -Lem Satterfield, Fanhouse In late July, following the second round of failed negotiations for a Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao clash, HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg acknowledged that he acted as a mediator between Mayweather's handlers and those of Pacquiao's from Top Rank Promotions in an effort to bring their highly-anticipated fight to fruition. Greenburg said that he had been the intermediary negotiating with Bob Arum, Top Rank Promotions' CEO, and Mayweather's manager, Al Haymon, even as Golden Boy Promotions' president, Oscar De La Hoya, and Mayweather's adviser, Leonard Ellerbe, had denied that negotiations took place. "Fights like Mayweather vs. Pacquiao are significant because of these fighters' ability to connect with sports fans around the world. It's unfortunate that it won't happen in 2010," Greenburg had said at the time in a prepared statement. "I had been negotiating with a representative from each side since May 2nd, carefully trying to put the fight together. Hopefully, someday this fight will happen. Sports fans deserve it." FanHouse caught up to Greenburg recently to discuss the failed negotiations for Mayweather-Pacquiao, and his hopes that their clash might still come to fruition. FanHouse: First of all, can you discuss the phenomenon that is Manny Pacquiao? Ross Greenburg: I think certainly with Manny Pacquiao, any time that he fights, he's going to be on the front pages. It's just as important to be on the front page of a website as a newspaper. The same thing holds for Floyd Mayweather if he returns to boxing in 2011. I hope that he gets together and that he does return. Well, besides Manny Pacquiao, who fights Antonio Margarito in November, do you see anyone else out three in the sport with the potential to captivate the public as he and Floyd Mayweather have? Aside from those two, I think that you have to look at the hope that by matching these giants in the ring, either Paul Williams and Sergio Martinez, or Amir Khan-Marcos Maidana, or, Tim Bradley-Devon Alexander, or, Juan Marquez-Michael Katsidis, that you can create that next super star. Hopefully, you can make these match ups and one or more of those fighters will emerge and become mainstream sports public figures, and they will attract people. When they start attacting the mainstream sports fan, then they have to be put on the front page. Can you discuss your regrets concerning the failure to make Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao? If we had made Mayweather-Pacquiao in this year, in 2010, we were right there as a sport. We were ready to just ride that beautiful wave and every other fight would have fallen into place. I told people in these offices that that was my biggest disappointment. Not only that the fight itself wasn't made, but that we were just on the cusp of taking this sport back to the level that we reached in the 1980s, and they pulled the rug out from under us. As a result, you know, the other fights that came along felt smaller. But now, I think that we've made the fights that are most important to the sport, and they're in the latter part of this year as we head into 2011. Hopefully, and, God help us, if Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather can just stay the course, then they can fight each other in the spring. And if they can fight each other in the spring, we can be back to where we want to be as a sport. Just how close was Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao to being made? Both times, the fight was very close to being made. And, the second time around, you know, all that I can say is that you would have to ask Floyd Mayweather why the fight wasn't made. To this day, I really don't know why Floyd decided that he didn't want the fight any more in the fall. To this day, I don't know why he wanted to take some more time off. Only Floyd has that answer. I certainly don't have that answer. But, you know, it was very close. It was so, so, close. I think that it was so close that I don't think that it's going to take much to make the fight the third time around. So your thinking is that in a third try, the third time will be the charm? I have to remain optimistic. But before we get there, there are a lot of things in the way. One of those things is Antonio Margarito. The other is Floyd Mayweather having to deal with his personal life in Las Vegas. Those are two, big obstacles. But if we can clear those hurdles, then, I'm pretty optimistic about that fight happening if we get a shot at making it again. I have to be optimistic. Can you discuss the phenomenon that is Floyd Mayweather? It's an amazing thing. Floyd's appearances on 24/7 have actually added to the intrigue of his character. He's a brash personality that you either love or you hate. It is why he is one of the most charismatic fighters in the world today. When I say those words, I can think of other fighters who have been in similar situations in the past with illustrious names, whether it's Mike Tyson or it's Muhammad Ali. Ali was a lightning rod. That is the sport we live in, and that's the explanation as to why Floyd Mayweather is at the top of the list when you look at star power. So, in conclusion, deep within your heart, you truly believe that Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao will happen? Yes. I do believe that if Floyd can clear up his situation in Las Vegas, then, yes, I do believe that we would see Floyd Mayweather back in the ring again. And the only logical fight for Floyd Mayweather is Manny Pacquiao -- that is, if he's still standing. http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2010/11/01/ross-greenburg-i-still-believe-floyd-mayweather-manny-pacquiao/