Mayweather-Pacquiao: Numbers That Might Not Add Up

While we wait for the Floyd Mayweather, Jr. versus Manny Pacquiao super-fight saga to get sorted out, let’s take a look at some numbers surrounding this proposed fight.

1: The number of defamation lawsuits filed in Nevada U.S. District Court by Pacquiao against the Mayweathers and Golden Boy Promotions. The suit alleges that that the Mayweathers and Golden Boy made false statements in accusing Pacquiao of using PEDs (performance enhancing drugs).

It could be the final straw that breaks this camel’s back and tosses this fight down the tubes.

3: The number of Mayweathers named in the defamation lawsuit. Floyd Jr., Floyd Sr., and Roger Mayweather, Floyd Jr’s uncle and trainer.

Pacquiao has hired L.A. attorney, Daniel Petrocelli, no stranger to high-profile cases, to represent him in this case.

If the Mayweathers and Golden Boy take this lightly, it could cost them tens of millions, not to mention the lost revenue from the fight not happening. If they don’t believe it, ask O.J. Simpson, whom Petrocelli went after and beat in court in 1997.

5: The number of episodes that the popular series HBO 24/7 says it will produce should the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight happen.

HBO says it would add an additional show to the customary four episodes to capture all the drama and hype that would surround a fight of this magnitude.

8: The number of divisions on the line should this fight get postponed and Pacquiao signs on to fight Yuri Foreman, the current junior middleweight champion.

With the Cotto victory, Pacquiao became the only fighter ever to win championships in seven weight classes. A win over Foreman would make it eight, an unprecedented achievement.

In contrast, Mayweather, the former pound-for-pound king has won championships in five weight classes.

Top Rank Chief, Bob Arum knows the historical significance and has already made mention of Foreman as a potential opponent in the hopes of generating fan interest should the Mayweather negotiations fall through.

51: The number of days the fans have been speculating on this fight.

That’s 51 days of analyzing, arguing, and dissecting this matchup since the moment Pacquiao defeated Miguel Cotto at the MGM Grand on Nov. 14 and set plans for this fight in motion.

While this doesn’t sound like a long time, it feels like an eternity for everyone interested in this matchup, from the fans to the media. The sad part, this could go on a lot longer.

68: The number of days until the proposed fight date of Mar. 13.

If things do get sorted out and the fight goes as planned, both teams will be scrambling to get their fighters in shape by the date, distractions and all.

Most boxers need around five to six weeks to train for a fight. Since both Mayweather and Pacquiao keep themselves in great shape, this probably won’t be a problem for either of them.

But as the distractions and obstacles mount, this date becomes more and more significant with each passing day.

147: The number of agreed-upon pounds as the weight limit for this fight.

One of the stipulations of the contract is that if either fighter comes in heavier than 147, it will cost them $10 million per pound to be paid to the other fighter.

While Pacquiao won’t come close to surpassing 147, Floyd Jr. should take note. He arrived at his last fight with Juan Manuel Marquez two pounds over the agreed-upon 144 pound limit.

Many believed Mayweather had no intention of dropping the extra poundage and that was readily apparent in the fight contract written up with Pacquiao.

2.24: The number in millions that represents the current high-water mark for Pay-per-view buys achieved during the 2007 De La Hoya–Mayweather fight.

Many predict that Mayweather-Pacquiao will smash that number on Mar. 13, an incredible feat considering that Pacquiao is from the Philippines and Mayweather is portrayed as a villain in the sport.

50,000,000: The estimated number of dollars that both fighters stand to lose if this fight gets cancelled.

Fifty million. I just had to spell it out.

With predictions that Mayweather-Pacquiao will generate the largest amount of revenue ever for a fight, many think this number could be a lot higher.

How much higher, nobody knows.

And sadly, may never know if this fight doesn’t happen.

That’s a lot of numbers that may ultimately add up to nothing.