Mayweather vs. Pacquiao: Bob Arum Scorns Floyd, Condemns Talk of Rematch
Manny Pacquiao has already touched on the topic of a rematch with Floyd Mayweather Jr., but Top Rank CEO Bob Arum isn't a fan of such talk. In fact, he isn't a fan of working with the Mayweather camp in general.
The veteran promoter has suggested that, once the May 2 megafight is completed, he doesn't want to enter negotiations with Floyd's team again. Jeff Powell of the MailOnline reported Arum's scolding comments:
"It was only by giving Floyd everything he wanted that we got this thing done, But it's still been so difficult dealing with his team and Al Haymon (the secretive advisor to Mayweather and a rapidly expanding stable of boxers).
It takes them three weeks to answer an email, for God's sake. I really don't want to go through this nonsense all over again. After this is over we can get money from other fights. Not as much but very good money.
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Arum relates Mayweather to Eugene O'Neill's Emperor Jones, calling him a "megalomaniac" and a "control freak." As Powell relates, "Emperor Jones tells the story of an African-American who is sentenced to prison but escapes to a Caribbean island, there to install himself as emperor."
The promoter doesn't expect Mayweather to have the motivation to take on Pacquiao again, per Powell: "I'm not sure Floyd will fight again, especially if he loses to Manny. I don't think he wants to. Sure he likes the money and the lifestyle and the limelight. But I don't see him enjoying boxing any more."
These suspicions are grounded in word from Pretty Boy, who previously confirmed his love for boxing has subsided. "I'm pretty much done with all this," Mayweather said, reported by Powell. "It's not fun like it was back then. It's business now. I don't really enjoy it any longer. (I'll fight a) final one at the MGM Grand in September."
Pacquiao has admitted he would want a larger share of the purse if a second bout went ahead. He believes talks would be far simpler second time round, as reported by Powell: "I am not happy to have conceded 60-40 percent to Floyd. Negotiating would be easier for the re-match. To make this happen we had to give him everything he wanted. If there is a next time it would be a different deal."
Arum isn't the type of promoter to shy away from speaking his mind. He is easily frustrated, highlighted by his decision to halt Pacquiao's "stupid" conference call session with the media, as reported by Kevin Iole of Yahoo Sports.
He recently admitted the contract for the fight still isn't signed, providing ESPN.com with reasons as to why:
"We agreed that we would all be signatories on the final contract and then they sent us a draft of the agreement and it excluded us. They don't want us to have any say (on in-arena production, video content, music etc). So whether they came up with the deal between Mayweather and MGM before or after our agreement, they've committed fraud either way. That's what we're enmeshed in.
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Mayweather has always made demands for this fight, stretching back to his call for blood testing when original plans were being put together in 2009. Part of this likely comes down to bravado—he wants to be seen to always have the upper hand—part of it can be attributed to Mayweather being a businessman who only deals on his terms.
A lucrative rematch makes sense, especially if Pacquiao surprises the majority and grabs the win. Floyd has never had to bounce back from a professional defeat, however, so it's questionable whether he would entertain the idea of facing the Filipino again if he does lose. Freddie Roach, Pacquiao's trainer, recently told Bleacher Report's Stephen Nelson that Mayweather is about to tarnish his record:
With one more fight likely to be scheduled after the upcoming encounter, maybe a final win would be the most important thing for Mayweather.
Should Floyd beat Pac-Man, however, even greater power would be in his hands. He's the type of fighter who would publicly denounce Pacquiao's credentials, saying he is no longer worthy as an opponent. We've seen him take rematches before—most recently against Marcos Maidana—although this was perhaps the safe option after his opening win.
The build-up to May 2's fight is likely to be taking more out of both fighters than ever before. Their every move, comment and action is being analysed. Arum's quotes indicate that, when it's all said and done, this will amount to a great payday which isn't worth repeating.
Whether Manny and Mayweather feel the same on May 3 remains to be seen.
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