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Pacquiao, Mayweather camps quiet on deal
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 26, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Don’t expect to hear anything from Bob Arum or Richard Schaefer in the days or weeks ahead if it’s regarding the negotiations for Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“There’s a gag order and we have to respect it. We are not allowed to talk,” said Arum over the phone yesterday after sitting down and having lunch with Schaefer in Day One of the negotiations.
Arum said he can’t give out details regarding the negotiations which of course would center on how the purse, which could reach $150 million, should be divided between the two superstars.
“I can’t. I really can’t,” said the legendary promoter from Top Rank, who said he’s not even sure how long it would take for him and Schaefer, who’s representing Mayweather in the talks, to negotiate.
“I have no idea. Thanksgiving is coming up and I won’t be back here in my office until Monday,” said Arum from his headquarters in Las Vegas. He said he’s off to a much-deserved break in Colorado.
The gag order, according to Arum, will be in effect “until our negotiations are either finalized or terminated.”
He and Schaefer met in Las Vegas over lunch Monday to see to it whether the fight that everybody wants to see could take place next year. Reports said they’re looking at May 1 as a date for the fight.
But that would depend on Pacquiao’s political schedule because the reigning pound-for-pound champion is seeking a Congressional seat in the May 10 national elections in the Philippines.
Arum had earlier penciled March 13 as the date for Pacquiao’s next fight, in fact it’s already listed at www.boxrec.com, but Freddie Roach said if it’s Mayweather, March is out of the question.
“If it’s Mayweather, we need time to get ready for that fight. We have to come out with a real different style. It’s a whole different ballgame,” he said,
And he’s not even looking at a “tuneup” match by March if that’s what you can call a possible fight with whoever’s out there – like Shane Mosley, Andre Berto or Edwin Valero.
“If we get Mayweather, why risk losing that (tuneup) fight. I’d say he rest for a while, enjoy the holidays, run for elections, and the Congressman Manny Pacquiao will kick Mayweather’s ass,” said Roach.
For the meantime, the guessing game is on as to the venue of the Pacquiao-Mayweather if ever it takes place. Arum had said that just won’t happen in New York because of its high (15 percent) tax structure.
But there’s the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, a new one that could seat more than a hundred thousand, the Super Dome in New Orleans, another one in Vancouver, Canada, and a proposed outdoor arena that can be built in Las Vegas just for the fight.
The venue, however, will only be taken up seriously once the fight is sealed. For the meantime, there’s a “gag order,” and the world will just have to wait and see.
By Abac Cordero (The Philippine Star) Updated November 26, 2009 12:00 AM
MANILA, Philippines - Don’t expect to hear anything from Bob Arum or Richard Schaefer in the days or weeks ahead if it’s regarding the negotiations for Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“There’s a gag order and we have to respect it. We are not allowed to talk,” said Arum over the phone yesterday after sitting down and having lunch with Schaefer in Day One of the negotiations.
Arum said he can’t give out details regarding the negotiations which of course would center on how the purse, which could reach $150 million, should be divided between the two superstars.
“I can’t. I really can’t,” said the legendary promoter from Top Rank, who said he’s not even sure how long it would take for him and Schaefer, who’s representing Mayweather in the talks, to negotiate.
“I have no idea. Thanksgiving is coming up and I won’t be back here in my office until Monday,” said Arum from his headquarters in Las Vegas. He said he’s off to a much-deserved break in Colorado.
The gag order, according to Arum, will be in effect “until our negotiations are either finalized or terminated.”
He and Schaefer met in Las Vegas over lunch Monday to see to it whether the fight that everybody wants to see could take place next year. Reports said they’re looking at May 1 as a date for the fight.
But that would depend on Pacquiao’s political schedule because the reigning pound-for-pound champion is seeking a Congressional seat in the May 10 national elections in the Philippines.
Arum had earlier penciled March 13 as the date for Pacquiao’s next fight, in fact it’s already listed at www.boxrec.com, but Freddie Roach said if it’s Mayweather, March is out of the question.
“If it’s Mayweather, we need time to get ready for that fight. We have to come out with a real different style. It’s a whole different ballgame,” he said,
And he’s not even looking at a “tuneup” match by March if that’s what you can call a possible fight with whoever’s out there – like Shane Mosley, Andre Berto or Edwin Valero.
“If we get Mayweather, why risk losing that (tuneup) fight. I’d say he rest for a while, enjoy the holidays, run for elections, and the Congressman Manny Pacquiao will kick Mayweather’s ass,” said Roach.
For the meantime, the guessing game is on as to the venue of the Pacquiao-Mayweather if ever it takes place. Arum had said that just won’t happen in New York because of its high (15 percent) tax structure.
But there’s the Cowboys Stadium in Dallas, a new one that could seat more than a hundred thousand, the Super Dome in New Orleans, another one in Vancouver, Canada, and a proposed outdoor arena that can be built in Las Vegas just for the fight.
The venue, however, will only be taken up seriously once the fight is sealed. For the meantime, there’s a “gag order,” and the world will just have to wait and see.
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