Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao: How It Can Finally Happen

The most hyped boxing match that has been anything but official may actually become a reality in 2013.  The saying "better late than never" is quite appropriate when it comes to  Floyd “Money” Mayweather Jr. (42-0) vs.  Manny “Pacman” Pacquiao (54-3-2).  Interest in the sport is at an all-time low due to the lack of marquee names (thanks for nothing Klitschko bros.) combined with the rise of mixed martial arts.  Yet these two fighters who can bring boxing back to prominence have been at a highly publicized impasse the last two years.

Seemingly every roadblock imaginable – even questioning blood tests, but more on that in a minute – has prevented this fight from happening.

Gigantic egos aside, there are plenty of issues to resolve including the date and venue, but most importantly, the payout. Let's quickly discuss the facts and then I will explain how two of the best pound-for-pound boxers of their generation can finally meet in the ring.

Problem: The timing of the match.

Pacquiao and Mayweather’s representatives began negotiations back in December of 2009.  For several months the biggest holdup was the method of testing for illegal substances.  Floyd’s camp wanted Manny’s to agree to Olympic-style regulations by the United States Anti-Doping Agency.  Meaning both boxers would be randomly tested at any time up until the fight date.  The state of Nevada, presumably where the fight will take place, only requires one urine test before and one directly after the fight.  Pacquiao did not want random blood sampling because of the risk involved from being weakened if blood was drawn too close to the event date.  Lots of finger pointing and blame was thrown around and eventually the deal fell through.  They moved on and scheduled different opponents. 

 Almost two years and several matches later, not much dialogue occurred between the fighters until Floyd ran into trouble with the law.  After pleading guilty to a reduced battery domestic violence charge and no contest to two harassment charges, Mayweather was sentenced to 87 days in jail.  However, instead of serving time in January of 2012, the judge pushed the date back to June 1^st so that Mayweather could fulfill his obligation to fight in May.  Shortly after the ruling, Mayweather called out Pacquiao via twitter (always a classy move).

Manny’s promoter and CEO of Top Rank, Bob Arum, said that the May 5  date did not provide enough time for his fighter and also worried that a larger venue would not be ready.  Once again negotiations stalled and both parties made other plans.  

Mayweather’s camp scheduled Miguel Cotto (whom Pacquiao TKO’d in 2009 by the way) instead for the May date at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas.  One month after their match, Pacquiao will also box at the MGM against Timothy Bradley, defending his WBO Welterweight title.

Solution: The blood/and or urine tests can be conducted three weeks before and 24 hours after the fight.  This should satisfy both parties and (hopefully) prove that neither boxer was using performance enhancing substances.

Once Mayweather is out of jail this August, it is unlikely that he’ll fight Pacquiao right away.  The bout of the century can be tentatively scheduled around spring 2013 since there are no contractual obligations at this time. 

Arum's most telling update last week provides further proof for a fight next year:

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 “I don’t think that Mayweather will be available in the fall to fight Manny. He certainly doesn’t indicate that he wants to fight him now. I would think, probably, everybody would be better off if we thought about that fight [for] next year. But everything is open. First of all, Manny has a really tough fight with Bradley. And secondly, depending on how things break everybody would certainly agree that Juan Manuel [Marquez] deserves a rematch [with Pacquiao]. So I would think that would be what I’m focusing on.”

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We’ve waited this long, what’s another couple months?  The timing of the match also directly affects the venue; let’s discuss how.   

Problem: The location of the match.

The indoor MGM Grand Arena has been home to Mayweather for his last six events and he is not too keen on fighting anywhere else.  On the other hand, Arum wants to do the match outside, literally on a bigger stage.

Three months ago when Mayweather was challenging Pacquiao to the May 5  fight, Arum responded on behalf of the Filipino boxer by saying that there was no way his venue idea could be prepared in time.  The MGM holds 16,800 but due to the high demand and the expected money to be generated, Arum discussed the possibility of building an outdoor arena that holds 40-45,000.  The additional spectators would obviously increase the number of viewers and the value.

Unable to reach an agreement for the May time frame and with jail time looming, Mayweather was quick to schedule Cotto.  Pacquiao and Bradley followed shortly thereafter.

Solution: Since Mayweather prefers fighting indoors but Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum wants it on a grander scale, the best compromise might be at Jerry World aka Cowboys Stadium in Dallas. There’s no bigger spectacle – including standing room, the stadium capacity is 110,000.  It is also home to the 2nd largest high-definition video screen in the world.  Setting up a fight inside the dome would cost significantly less than building from scratch on the Vegas strip since a lot of the problems faced (additional seating, concessions, bathrooms, etc.) in an outdoor arena would be in place already in Dallas. 

Pacquiao has actually had two fights at Cowboys Stadium before so there’s no reason to think he wouldn’t fight there again.  The roof can be retracted or closed to satisfy an indoor/outdoor vibe.  Let’s just hope Mr. Mayweather would go for it. 

 The location is not that big of a step to overcome, the money for “Money” and “Pacman” is.

 (Big) Problem: The payout.

In Mayweather’s mind, his undefeated record justifies more than 50% of the purse. His bio on Twitter says, "In the check cashing business."  I’d say he thinks he’s earned it. 

In addition to negotiating the venue and date of the fight, Arum was quick to defend the bigger draw for Pacquiao:

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“Mayweather and his people are completely irrational,” Arum said Friday. “Pacquiao has the highest gates, highest pay-per-view numbers, brings in more high rollers to Vegas, and he is supposed to take less than 50 percent? Never.”

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Pacquiao suggested a 70-30 winner payday but Mayweather refused.  Both of their advisers argued to a stalemate over the payout.  This remains the largest and most difficult hurdle to overcome. 

Solution:  A 60-40 split of the guaranteed purse to the winner.

If Mayweather thinks he’s better, than he should have no problem agreeing to this.  Easier said than done of course but this fight is going to be the most lucrative offer of both their careers.  There is another way to make even more money though. 

A guaranteed rematch.

Depending on the outcome of the first fight, which seems ridiculous considering how hard it has been to schedule one fight, a rematch would make them more money and be easier to promote.  

This would-be fight has the potential to generate the most amount of money in boxing history.  As greedy as it sounds, Arum does have a point in wanting to pull out all the stops and make this the spectacle it deserves.  Besides the amount of spectators who will fork over more than $1,000 per ticket, there is also the pay-per-view audience to consider.  Bars and nightclubs will be purchasing the fight and charging admission into their establishment, but why stop there?  Advertisers could partner with movie theaters across the world (why limit it to just the U.S.?) to show the match.

Mayweather vs. Pacquiao has been a dream matchup for the fighter's and promoter’s wallets, but especially for boxing fans.  We do not want the two of them scheduling has-beens that the other has already defeated.  We want this clash of epic proportions, and we want it now; before these spectacular fighters are no longer in their prime, or God forbid, one of them loses the next fight.  If that happens my point is moot.  The hype would be over, the fight loses its entire luster, and boxing will continue to lack excitement.  They have to reach an agreement if they want to cement their legacy, appease the fans, and to save the sport.