Optimism that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao were closer than ever to agreeing to a super fight on May 2 was at an all-time high after the two fighters were both in attendance at a Miami Heat game last week and met face-to-face.
Then they had a private meeting to hash out differences in negotiations. This meeting was characterized as positive by Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz, who predicted an announcement would come soon.
"Nobody can stop this. I can't stop it. Bob can't stop it. HBO can't stop it. Showtime can't. [Mayweather adviser] Al [Haymon] can't. The only ones who can stop it are Floyd and Manny, and right now, they're both saying they want the fight," Koncz said.
Mayweather threw cold water on those high hopes over the weekend though, posting about his vacations instead and using a hashtag that will disappoint fans.
"While they continue to lie about making the fight... I'm just going to continue to travel and explore the world on my private jet. #FightNotMadeYet #Jamaica,” he posted.
Respected Yahoo! boxing scribe Kevin Iole took to Twitter about the fight as well, tweeting this:
So @FloydMayweather just posted to @shots ... and used the hash tag #FightNotMadeYet Sorry @TMZ ... Relax everyone.
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) January 31, 2015
The delay in talks is not only frustrating for fans, but is holding up the decision-making process for several other fighters, such as Amir Khan and Miguel Cotto. Khan could agree to a big-money fight in the U.K. against Pacquiao for later in May, while Cotto is believed to be a Plan B for Mayweather if Pacquiao discussions fail.
The negotiations also have affected Canelo Alvarez. His own talks with Cotto died because of Cotto’s quabbles with his purse; there is speculation that he waffled because of the potential Mayweather rematch. Alvarez has since agreed to face James Kirkland on May 2, but that date can’t be announced because it will be changed should Mayweather and Pacquiao agree to fight.
[Yahoo!]
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