Comments Thread For: SHO's Espinoza: Arum 'Not Truthful' on Mayweather Talks

[GRUSTLER]

Showtime exec: Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao contracts not crafted yet

By LANCE PUGMIRE
contact the reporter

A deal apparently is in the eyes of the beholder.

By the standards of Manny Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, a long-awaited super-fight between Pacquiao and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. is but a signature away.

“We’re all done,” Arum told Fight Hub TV and others while in Colorado this week. “We’ve signed everything, agreed on all the terms. As far as we know, we’ve been told by the highest authority that Mayweather’s people have agreed, that the networks have agreed.

“But like they say, you can’t do a play about Hamlet without Hamlet, and Hamlet -- meaning Mayweather -- has not signed on.”

Not so fast, and not at all accurate, counters Showtime Executive Vice President Stephen Espinoza, who is negotiating alongside his superiors and HBO executives to craft a joint-broadcasting deal for what’s expected to be the most lucrative pay-per-view bout in history.

Showtime has two fights remaining in its agreement with Mayweather. Pacquiao fights for HBO.

“Arum has been saying a lot of inaccuracies,” Espinzoa told the Los Angeles Times in a telephone interview Saturday.

“Here’s where we are: There is no contract awaiting Floyd’s signature, and Bob Arum knows that. Floyd has represented to [CBS/Showtime Chairman] Leslie Moonves, to [his manager] Al Haymon and to me personally that he wants to make the fight, and we are making very good progress. But there are no contracts. There are open issues between Showtime and HBO that are being resolved.

“No one is waiting on Floyd, and for Bob Arum to say otherwise is a misrepresentation of the facts.

“Discussions are ongoing. We’ve made significant progress. And Floyd has given us clear directions to make the fight.”

In a conversation with The Times earlier this week, Arum said that while attorneys are ready to draft contracts, it would likely take into this coming week before anything can be presented to the fighters to sign.

With issues like splitting profits, the fight replay, handling on-air talent and other details as part of the challenge of handling a joint broadcast arrangement between rival premium networks that hasn’t been done since 2002 (Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson), Espinoza declined to reveal what deal points remain unfinished.

Pacquiao told The Times earlier this week that he wants an agreement struck by the end of January. On Friday, he visited in London with England’s Amir Khan to discuss what is clearly a backup option.

If the deal is close by Jan. 31, it’s believed Pacquiao will wait.

The fighters have already agreed on the purse split, a drug-testing plan, a May 2 date and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as the venue.

“We’re about halfway there,” Espinoza said of the television prong. “How long it takes to get to the finish line is anyone’s guess and I wouldn’t want to speculate.

“But we are making progress. We’re confident it’s going in the right direction.”

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sports...124-story.html

This is how ****** people are believing Arum when clearly he says attorneys are ready to draft the contracts while Pacquiao continues to scream for Mayweather to sign the contract? That's the thing with liars. They lie so much that they forget and to stick to their own lies.

[Bullrider]

I expect Arum to do what Hoya and Canelo did, move on and forget about these gutless, uncivilized clowns.

[Rath]

Showtime exec: Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao contracts not crafted yet

By LANCE PUGMIRE
contact the reporter

A deal apparently is in the eyes of the beholder.

By the standards of Manny Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, a long-awaited super-fight between Pacquiao and unbeaten Floyd Mayweather Jr. is but a signature away.

“We’re all done,” Arum told Fight Hub TV and others while in Colorado this week. “We’ve signed everything, agreed on all the terms. As far as we know, we’ve been told by the highest authority that Mayweather’s people have agreed, that the networks have agreed.

“But like they say, you can’t do a play about Hamlet without Hamlet, and Hamlet -- meaning Mayweather -- has not signed on.”

Not so fast, and not at all accurate, counters Showtime Executive Vice President Stephen Espinoza, who is negotiating alongside his superiors and HBO executives 1 to craft a joint-broadcasting deal for what’s expected to be the most lucrative pay-per-view bout in history.

Showtime has two fights remaining in its agreement with Mayweather. Pacquiao fights for HBO.

“Arum has been saying 2 a lot of inaccuracies,” Espinzoa told the Los Angeles Times in a telephone interview Saturday.

“Here’s where we are: There is no contract awaiting Floyd’s signature, and Bob Arum knows that. 3 Floyd has represented to [CBS/Showtime Chairman] Leslie Moonves, to [his manager] Al Haymon and to me personally that he wants to make the fight, and we are making very good progress. But there are no contracts. There are open issues between Showtime and HBO that are being resolved.

“No one is waiting on Floyd, and for Bob Arum to say otherwise is a misrepresentation of the facts.

“Discussions are ongoing. We’ve made significant progress. And Floyd has given us clear directions to make the fight.”

In a conversation with The Times earlier this week, Arum said that while attorneys are ready to draft contracts, it would likely take into this coming week before anything can be presented to the fighters to sign.

5 With issues like splitting profits, the fight replay, handling on-air talent and other details as part of the challenge of handling a joint broadcast arrangement between rival premium networks that hasn’t been done since 2002 (Lennox Lewis-Mike Tyson), Espinoza declined to reveal what deal points remain unfinished.

Pacquiao told The Times earlier this week that he wants an agreement struck by the end of January. On Friday, he visited in London with England’s Amir Khan to discuss what is clearly a backup option.

If the deal is close by Jan. 31, it’s believed Pacquiao will wait.

The fighters have already agreed on the purse split, a drug-testing plan, a May 2 date and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as the venue.

“We’re about halfway there,” Espinoza said of the television prong. “How long it takes to get to the finish line is anyone’s guess and I wouldn’t want to speculate.

“But we are making progress. We’re confident it’s going in the right direction.”

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sports...124-story.html

Let's see all the red ones.

1 To craft a broadcasting deal - when was this written by Lance Pugmire because it means up to the time of this writing the deal has not been crafted yet

2 A lot of inaccuracies - what are the inaccuracies?

3 Floyd has represented to [CBS/Showtime Chairman] Leslie Moonves, to [his manager] Al Haymon and to me personally that he wants to make the fight, and we are making very good progress. But there are no contracts - you negotiated and making a very good progress base on "Floyd wants to make the fight" without anything or contract at all?

4 Discussions are ongoing. We’ve made significant progress. And Floyd has given us clear directions to make the fight. What, how vague can you be "Floyd has given us clear direction to make the fight" still no contract or anything but what kind of clear directions Floyd gave you verbally telepathically what?

5 has nothing to do with Floyd and Pac

6. The fighters have already agreed on the purse split, a drug-testing plan, a May 2 date and the MGM Grand in Las Vegas as the venue. is it not this the one Pac and Arum been saying for a while now?

7 We’re about halfway there and But we are making progress. We’re confident it’s going in the right direction. how can anyone do this without a contract or something?

[Street]

Mentioned everyone so can be easily disputed. I believe him. Arum is lying

Indeed. He mentioned the players invoved. HBO can be cited for verification. Espinoza is saying what many people suspected. It is clear, Bob Arum has personal issues with Mayweather and is playing cat and mouse. He being the mouse. We now know that Mayweather wants to fight Pacquiao, so the notion that Mayweather is scared of Pacquiao is in effect BS. Bob Arum is the roadblock and I believe he has always been the reason Pac never fought Mayweather.

[IMDAZED]

as bad as a liar arum is, if he is, indeed lying here... what motive does he have to prevent a fight as lucrative as this?!

Works both ways for Arum and Showtime.

[Mayweatherfan11]

I'm more inclined to believe what Espinoza is saying. There is no contract but I do believe the only thing that needs sorting out is television rights. As many people said a few weeks back, Floyd will make an announcement of who he is fighting at the Super Bowl.

[The Big Dunn]

as bad as a liar arum is, if he is, indeed lying here... what motive does he have to prevent a fight as lucrative as this?!

Fair question. But why did he have reasons to let lucrative fights (obviously not as big as this one) that fans wanted to see "marinate"?

[I Love Jesus!]

Ya agreements have not been reached, ie mayweather wont agree to anything as usual.

[Bullrider]

Make the next move Arum. Start negotiating with the Khan people. There's just so much **** you can take from unprofessional people. Espinoza is just another clown whose focus is playing blame game. If he is smart, he would update Arum on the details of why things are moving slowly. Look at the first thing he did. He talked to the media, not the man they're supposed to be negotiating with when he knows clearly that the ball is on their court. It's clear that they're not taking things seriously.

[tokon]

I cant wait for Arum's response.

I think its obvious that there is still some negotiating left to do and I do questions Arum's motives for telling everyone the negotiations are over and the only reason it isn't done is Mayweather is holding it up.

Both guys disdain for one another is going to keep boxing fans from witnessing an epic fight...damn shame

early post that sums it all up.

is Arum making these comments to deliberately antagonise PBF and sabotage fight?

if I had to make a call between Arum and Espinoza's takes on things I'd go with Showtimes; there's still some way to go but it's ongoing.

STFU Arum!