Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Lack of Superfight Is All About Ego

There have been plenty of reasons tossed about for why Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have not fought. Disagreements over drug testing and money and accusations that one fighter is ducking the other, are all popular explanations. 

However, it is not for any of these reasons—at least not at the root. Dig deep enough into these obstacles, and you'll see it is all about ego: big, giant, unhinged egos. 

These are two huge stars, making enormous piles of cash, who are used to winning and used to getting their way. 

This is why negotiations for this fight are much more about demands than bargaining. 

This is most evident over the issue of money. Mayweather wants a bigger share of the money, and Floyd has said Manny wants 50/50 of the total. 

The ironic thing here is that this is only indirectly about money. No matter what split they arrive upon, it would certainly be the most both men had ever made for a fight. 

However, by agreeing to less than 50/50, Pacquiao would be admitting that Floyd is a bigger draw than he is. By agreeing to 50/50, Floyd would be admitting he has an equal in terms of generating revenue. 

Neither option is something either fighter's ego will allow. And let us not forget the other giant ego involved in all of this, and that is Top Rank promoter Bob Arum. 

Arum is already losing out on a big chunk of change because Money is not a Top Rank fighter. When Arum sets up a fight for Pacquiao with someone under the Top Rank umbrella, he gets a cut from both sides. 

Now, he is faced with the prospect of not only getting just one side of this action, but that being the smaller side. And you better believe his ego is not thrilled about that. 

None of these parties involved need this fight to make hefty paydays, and without that necessity, their egos are allowed to destroy the possibility.