The Pacquiao-Mayweather Encounter

by Danny Rolodex

Last July 2009, Floyd Mayweather, Jr., schooled Juan Manuel Marquez in a 12-round boxing snoozefest for unanimous win coming from his short retirement.  Manny Pacquiao, on the other hand, gave Miguel Cotto a nasty beatdown, leaving the Puerto Rican’s face into a deformed raw hamburger.

Apparently, Marquez and Cotto stood in the way of what may become the greatest boxing encounter of today’s generation.  With the obstacles out of the way, the world’s eyes are all set for a possible encounter between two pound-for-pound kings — Floyd Mayweather, Jr., and Manny Pacquiao. 

Armed with his marketing slogan, “the undefeated in 40 fights,” as well as his self-proclaimed status as boxing’s greatest, Mayweather pushes for a bigger share in the purse percentage.  His camp cites that his pay-per-view number should speak for itself.  As far as his distorted reality is concerned, Mayweather adds that boxing would die out if he would hang his gloves.  Accordingly, he should have the lion’s share.  Talk about aggressive arrogance.

Team Pacquiao, on the other hand, is content on a 50-50 split.  Of course, they too would like a 60-40 share in their favor if they get their way, but that would be very unlikely given Mayweather’s stance on the matter.

Negotiations are ongoing as both camps hinted interest on the possible clash, especially Pacquiao who intimated interest in wiping that grin off Mayweather’s face.  On a more personal note, I think Mayweather would play hardball on this one, and price himself out of the Pacquiao fight.  By setting up the “percentage share” move, Mayweather could dodge Pacquiao and politely say “I don’t wanna fight Pacquiao.”