Top Rank fight boss Bob Arum agrees with the growing sentiment that Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao should fight for charity.
Over the years, arguably the two best pound-for pound fighters of their era have been unable to agree to terms in what would be a mega-fight largely based on issues ranging from a split of the purse to agree upon forms of drug testing.
More recently, Pacquiao proposed that the two square off for free in an ode to all their many fans with the proceeds going to charity.
"I think the proposal that Pacquiao has made is superb," Arum told Newsday earlier this week. "It would elevate boxing to a new level. Everybody get together, work on the fight, nobody touch the money, nobody takes five cents, including the fighters. Give it all to charity. Have a presidential commission from the United States and a presidential commission from the Philippines dictate who and what charities would get the money. Hundreds of millions of dollars would be raised."
While Arum told the newspaper he is certain Pacquiao is willing to make good on his proposal, he isn't so sure Mayweather will ever agree to accept it. "What Floyd would or wouldn't do, that you'd have to ask him," said Arum.
With Pacquiao reportedly owing the IRS and Filipino government tens of millions in back taxes, money has recently become a keen issue for him. Still, Pacquiao has steadfastly refuted Mayweather's claims that he only now wants to bring more attention to himself as a way of remaining relevant and promotable.
"It would go down in history, 100 years from now, as something that boxing did for the general good," Arum told Newsday. "And I think it would be more important than the money either of these guys or the promoters would make for that fight."
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