As with every negotiation between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. there seems to be something getting in the way. This time? It seems like Mayweather is stalling the fight, and no one really knows why.
The Manny Pacquiao team has agreed to everything, at least according to Bob Arum and Michael Koncz. The time of the fight which Mayweather is insisting on (May 2), and Pacquiao has even breached the January 31 ultimatum he set for himself to get the deal done. The money split (60-40), the drug testing protocol, the order of ring walks and instructions and even the name of the fight.
These are things that can be finished in a matter of minutes, but instead it seems to be delayed. One fax or mail is sent with a draft and terms, then a different one is sent in reply with a new problem popping up. There’s also the entire issue between Showtime and HBO trying to come to terms about how they broadcast the fight together, and which crew gets to broadcast it.
But there are other media reports suggesting that HBO are the ones holding up the deal, not even acknowledging that negotiations are taking place. It’ll be quite tragic if after all this time, the thing that gets in the way of this fight will actually be the TV networks not coming to agreement will prevent it from finally happening.