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THE ART OF NON-NEGOTIATING 201: MAYWEATHER VS. PACQUIAO TIMELINE CONTINUES

By Ben Thompson | December 21, 2011
THE ART OF NON-NEGOTIATING 201: MAYWEATHER VS. PACQUIAO TIMELINE CONTINUES

Oh, what a tangled web we weave, when first we practice to deceive. Once again, promoter Bob Arum, with the help of select members of the media, wants you to believe that negotiations for the biggest and most lucrative fight in boxing history are taking place without the key representatives from either camp, namely himself and Mayweather adviser Al Haymon, actually having just one face-to-face meeting. Last time, it was Ross Greenburg who supposedly acted as conduit, as Arum claimed he was able to negotiate a deal when the former HBO Sports president relayed conversations that he had with Al Haymon back to him.

"We have never talked to anybody on the Mayweather side and all coversations on our part were through Ross Greenburg and he reported on all conversations on the Mayweather side from Al Haymon," explained the Hall of Fame promoter in July of 2010. "I never talked to anybody on the Mayweather side. I never talked to Mayweather. I only talked to Ross Greenburg, who represented to me certain things that he had discussed with Al Haymon on behalf of Mayweather." This time around, however, Arum claims that the only person he'll be negotiating with is Floyd Mayweather because "Floyd has no manager and no promoter, at least in terms of being under contract" and "if someone is coming along and waving a lot money, and says to Floyd, 'We don't want Haymon and we don't want Golden Boy involved,' then Floyd would decide that."

Nevermind the fact that Mayweather himself has constantly stated that adviser Al Haymon is his "go-to" guy when it comes to all of his business matters and no negotiations would take place without him and Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe being involved, Arum insists that Mayweather is "going solo" and he took it upon himself to allow Manny Pacquiao's adviser, Michael Koncz, to introduce him to one of the investment groups whose offer Arum is allegedly mulling over. Welcome to the Art of Non-Negotiating 201: The Intermediate Course, when not talking to anyone isn't enough to fool people into thinking you're actually putting forth an effort to give them what they want. In this class, the students are Manny Pacquiao and boxing fans, who all prefer to see a fight with Floyd Mayweather as opposed to a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, which is exactly what the teacher, Bob Arum, is going to end up giving you at the end of the course. Follow along to learn each intricate step of the non-negotiating process.

NOVEMBER 2, 2011

  • Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe and Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer reveal that Floyd Mayweather's next fight will take place on May 5, 2012 at the MGM Grand and they're hoping it's against Manny Pacquiao.

    "Team Mayweather is looking to make the biggest fight possible and everyone knows what that fight is. It's very pleasing to know that Manny Pacquiao has agreed to be subjected to the USADA random blood and urine tests," Mayweater Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe would first tell FightHype.com. Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer would echo those comments, telling ESPN's Dan Rafael, ""I'm very excited that the sport's biggest pay-per-view star is going to be back on May 5. We have informed the pay-per-view industry and I have the arena on hold. I'm excited to continue my relationship with Floyd and his team. It's always fun to work with Floyd."

    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11114.html
    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11119.html
    http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/7184086/floyd-mayweather-jr-wants
NOVEMBER 3, 2011

  • Promoter Bob Arum and advisor Michael Koncz express anger and outrage that Mayweather selected the date and venue of his next fight.

    "They've already said that it's May 5. They already said that it's at the MGM. How dare them? I'm really outraged that they made the announcement now right before Manny's fight, and we'll remember that," barked Arum. "And who are they to say what date that the fight would be held? What kind of of negotiation is that? So, if the MGM gave them May 5, then, Manny may fight somebody else in April in Texas or in the Thomas and Mack. This is not the way to make a deal." Michael Koncz would reiterate Arum's comments, adding that no negotiations have begun and suggesting the announcement was just an attempt to steal the attention from Pacquiao prior to his bout with Marquez. "They're just making an announcement to steal the thunder from Manny Pacquiao's show that's coming up, and there's going to be another opponent. There's been no discussion. So as Arum said, how can he choose a venue and also choose a date," Koncz argued. "As far as I'm aware, nobody from Mayweather's camp has contacted Manny directly or myself, or anybody else in position to discuss the fight."

    http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/169945-mayweathers-return
    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11128.html
NOVEMBER 3, 2011

  • Leonard Ellerbe makes it clear that any future business that needs to be discussed regarding the fight will be with Manny Pacquiao's promoter, Bob Arum.

    "Manny Pacquiao has one promoter, and one promoter only, and everyone knows who that is, and his name is not Michael Koncz. Any business that has to be discussed surely wouldn't be with Michael Koncz," Ellerbe explained, dismissing the Koncz's notion that either he or Pacquiao would be contacted directly.

    http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/169945-mayweathers-return-announcement
NOVEMBER 4, 2011

  • Bob Arum laughes at Leonard Ellerbe's announcement regarding Mayweather's return and makes it clear that if they're serious about negotiating, either he or Top Rank President Todd duBoef will be contacted.

    "The way they are going about it seems like a bizarre way to go about it. If you want to put it together, you meet, you talk...I don't take what they said seriously. I think it's Floyd's way of trying to grab a little bit of the spotlight away from Manny. I'm not going to get upset. I take it with a grain of salt," Arum would explain to ESPN's Dan Rafael. "When they want to do some serious negotiating somebody will call me or Todd [duBoef] and we will sit down and talk," he added. "For me it's sort of funny, amusing. It's noise and it probably helps my Pacquiao-Marquez event. I'm happy with it. It's out there. But it's a joke...When do the games stop and serious negotiations begin? This latest stunt is a game. It really is hilarious if they think this is how you negotiate...Why would they do this -- lay out a venue, a date already? What was that about? Let's wait until Nov. 14 and see where it goes, but this kind of stuff is counterproductive."

    http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/story/_/id/7187602/manny-pacquiao-promoter
    http://content.usatoday.com/communities/gameon/post/2011/11/bob-arum-laughs-at-mayweathers
NOVEMBER 6, 2011

NOVEMBER 13, 2011

  • Immediately following Manny Pacquiao's narrow victory over Juan Manuel Marquez, Bob Arum suggests a fourth fight between the two should take place in May.

    "I do fights in Mexico. There are a lot of angry Mexicans out there. I want a fourth fight. I want to be safe when I go to Mexico," Arum would comments at the post-fight press conference. "My advice to all of the parties involved is for an immediate rematch. It was a great fight." Arum also suggested the fight should take place in May, telling Kevin Iole of Yahoo! Sports, ""It was a great, great fight. I had Manny, but it was close, so why not bring them together again in May? It makes a lot of sense to do that."

    http://www.boxingscene.com/arum-calls-fourth-pacquiao-marquez-showdown--45973
    http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news;_ylt=...
NOVEMBER 13, 2011

  • Floyd Mayweather confirms his return on May 5th.

    "May 5th is still the date that we believe we're going to fight on," Mayweather tell FightHype.com. "You know, I just want to stay active and stay busy because the fans said they want me to stay active and stay busy...When you heard that from Leonard Ellerbe, it's not wrong by saying that May 5th is the date that we chose."

    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11189.html
NOVEMBER 13, 2011

  • Trainer Freddie Roach suggests a fourth fight with Marquez should take place before the Mayweather fight.

    "He has given us problems three times. I think he deserves a rematch first," Roach explained. "It's a fight I don't want to do again, but I think we have to...This is a much more exciting fight than Mayweather."

    http://sports.yahoo.com/box/news?slug=afp-box...
NOVEMBER 14, 2011

  • Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer reveals that they contacted Bob Arum to begin negotiations, but Arum turned them down because he plans on pursuing a fourth fight between Pacquiao and Marquez.

    "We have been informed that Bob Arum is not interested in pursuing a fight between Mayweather and Pacquiao at this time...The truth of the matter is that we received this afternoon an email from retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein, who has informed us that Top Rank is pursuing a rematch with Marquez and, therefore, is not interested in immediate talks for a possible Mayweather-Pacquiao fight. This is obviously as clear as it can be that they have no intentions of making a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight," Schaefer explained. "Judge Weinstein is respected by both parties and mediated issues between Top Rank and Golden Boy before, so the plan was to see if he could help facilitate such a fight. Floyd's team really wanted to get this fight done. If you just sit down with Arum, he can at any time have one of his fits, one of his 'fuck you' attacks, and the likelihood that he would have a 'fuck you' attack in front of a retired judge seemed less likely than if Arum and me would be alone in a room."

    http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/7235880/...
    http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/170167...
    http://www.mlive.com/mayweather/index.ssf/2011/11...
    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11197.html
NOVEMBER 14, 2011

  • Bob Arum says Manny Pacquiao is interested in a fourth fight with Marquez and a fight with Mayweather can always take place later in 2012.

    "That fight [Mayweather] can still be there for us in November [2012]," Bob Arum would tell Lance Pugmire of The Los Angeles Times, suggesting Pacquiao agreed that the third fight with Marquez "did not have the finish he wanted."

    http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-1115-pacquiao...
NOVEMBER 14, 2011

  • Bob Arum clarifies that although he is pursuing a fourth fight with Marquez, he hasn't made a definite decision.

    "We are pursuing a fourth fight with Marquez. As far as doing anything definitively, we aren't ready to do anything definitively. When we are ready to make a determination of what we are going to do, we will do it. We are not going to do this in the press. We will do what is in the best interest of ourselves and our client and make a decision when it's time to. If we decide we want to do a rematch with Marquez, there is no reason to sit down with Mayweather. If we want to explore a Mayweather fight, we will sit down with them. But I'm not going to sit down with them just because it's a good show," Arum explained. "Everybody is jumping to conclusions. Schaefer put out some statement that we said that we weren't going to pursue a meeting with Mayweather because we've decided on a fourth fight, but we haven't said anything like that. What I've said is that we're going to make a decision when the time comes to make a decision."

    http://espn.go.com/boxing/story/_/id/7235880...
    http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/170167...
NOVEMBER 15, 2011

  • Michael Koncz reveals that no decision about Manny Pacquiao's next opponent will be made until after the Christmas holidays.

    "As to whom our next opponent is or whether Marquez IV, we are going to take a few days and relax. Let Manny enjoy his family and then we will sit down and talk. There is no rush. We usually don't make a decision as to our next fight, when we fight in November, until after the Christmas holiday," Koncz would tell Keith Terceira of MP8.ph, Manny Pacquiao's official website, just last week. He would echo those exact same comments to Lem Satterfield of RingTV.com. "There's no need to rush into anything. We're not going to rush judgement about who we're going to fight or when we're going to fight. After the holiday season, we'll get with Bob Arum and discuss options. The facts of the matter are that Manny Pacquiao just went through a very difficult fight. As always, we'll take a couple of weeks just to relax. Manny will enjoy his family," Koncz explained. "We haven't even discussed anything with our promoter, Bob Arum, nor will we intend to discuss with our promoter, Bob Arum, anything about any fights probably until after the Christmas holiday. If anybody is inclined to come to us with a reasonable offer to fight, they can reach out to myself or to Bob Arum, but Manny is going to take some time off that he rightfully deservers. It's that simple. Period."

    http://www.mp8.ph/news/michael-koncz-no-decision-until...
NOVEMBER 16, 2011

NOVEMBER 17, 2011

  • Strength & Conditioning Coach Alex Ariza reveals that Manny Pacquiao told both he and Freddie Roach that he wants to fight Floyd Mayweather next.

    "I mean, he's told that to me himself that he wants the Mayweather fight. He told that to Freddie; he wants the Mayweather fight. I know Manny would like to fight Mayweather," Ariza would tell FightHype.

    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11217.html
NOVEMBER 20, 2011

NOVEMBER 22, 2011

NOVEMBER 24, 2011

  • Manny Pacquiao holds a press conference to declare that negotiations are taking place with Floyd Mayweather.

    Shortly after returning home to General Santos City, Philippines, Pacquiao held a press confress to inform those in attendance that negotiations for a fight with Mayweather are currently taking place. "Negotiations are ongoing for my fight with Mayweather, but nothing is final," he would comment. "Mayweather may be thinking, I can fight Pacquiao now because he had trouble against Marquez, and I was able to beat up Marquez."

    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11248.html
    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/11/24/11/pacquiao-confirms
NOVEMBER 24, 2011

  • Alex Ariza blames Bob Arum for interfering and standing in the way of a fight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather.

    "It's not about what's best for the fighter. It's clear as to why the Pacquiao-Mayweather fight has never happened. It's always about what's best for Bob and his agenda...Let me ask you something, why is it that Bob can do a co-promotion with everybody else out there? He can do a co-promotion with anyone, DiBella, this guy, that guy, but he won't do a co-promotion when it comes to Manny Pacquiao fighting somebody. Whoever Manny fights, he has to fight in-house. Why is that do you think? I wonder why," a heated Ariza would comment. "I know that Michael Koncz says that he's having a meeting with Bob to negotiate the Mayweather fight. They're having a meeting on how to make sure that this fight doesn't happen. That's what their meeting is about...We still are sticking firm. I think that's the fight that everybody wants to see. Here's the thing, Dana White is 100% absolutely correct. Bob Arum is a greedy pig. Now I see...Arum hates Floyd Mayweather, can't stand him, doesn't want to see him make a dollar, can't stand Golden Boy, doesn't want to do business with them, but instead of doing what's best for the sport, what's best for the fans, and what's best for the fighters because they'll get the payday of a lifetime, no, it's all about him...Unless you can tell me and convince me otherwise, because I'm thoroughly convinced and believe that Floyd really does want to have this fight. I think he really wants to have this fight. As far as he knows, he's right. He's right. Bob is the one interfering."

    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11249.html
NOVEMBER 25, 2011

  • Richard Schaefer reiterates that no negotiations are taking place and the only person who can negotiate on Manny Pacquiao's behalf is Bob Arum.

    "The only person who can negotiate is [Top Rank Inc. CEO Bob] Arum. Certain members of Team Pacquiao are trying to go around Bob Arum and have reached out to our side. We will not engage in this and support it. From what we are concerned, Manny Pacquiao has a boss, and his name is Bob Arum," Schaefer explained. "Bob made it clear through [retired judge and mediator] Dan Weinstein that he wants to get a Marquez versus Pacquiao fight done and has no interest at this point to sit down and get a Mayweather fight done. As I said before, Floyd is the no. 1 pay per view draw, the no. 1 box office draw and the no. 1 pound-for-pound fighter in the world. As such, we have zero interest in waiting to see if Bob can get a Marquez fight done, and if not, we are second choice."

    http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/170337-pacquiao-confirms
NOVEMBER 25, 2011

  • Bob Arum says although "things" are happening, there's nothing "solid" taking place as far a negotiations are concerned.

    "Pacquiao's not necessarily wrong, but it's not right either," said Arum. "Things are happening, but so far, nothing solid."

    http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/170337-pacquiao-confirms
NOVEMBER 27, 2011

  • Floyd Mayweather once again confirms that he's fighting on May 5th and hopes it's against Manny Pacquiao, but he's still waiting for negotiations to begin.

    "I been told the boy May 5th is open. I told him May 5th is open...Now you know me, to all the FightHype fans and all the fans, May 5th is the date. Sign the contract! Sign the contract! I'm waiting. Now I can't be sitting waiting all day, now. You want a fight, let's make it happen. May 5th! Now this is FightHype coming to you live. This is exclusive. May 5th, let's make the fight. I'm here. I'm waiting. What's going on? You said you a clean athelete and you said you would take the tests and all that. Well let's do it," stated Floyd Mayweather in an exclusive FightHype video interview that took place early in the morning on November 27, making it crystal clear that May 5th is the date of his next fight, and if Manny Pacquiao is ready, he's still waiting for him and his team to begin negotiations and finalize a contract.

    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11263.html
NOVEMBER 27, 2011

NOVEMBER 27, 2011

  • Leonard Ellerbe explains no business was discussed during Michael Koncz's visit to Mayweather gym and reiterates that Bob Arum is the only person authorized to negotiate a fight for Manny Pacquiao.

    "He was in a group of people that came by the gym and was greeted by Floyd, who is friendly with everybody that comes by the gym. Floyd doesn't know Michael Koncz from a high school basketball player from Biloxi, Mississippi," Ellerbe explained. "I don't know why he came by the gym other than the fact that a lot of people like to come by the gym and meet Floyd...To the best of my knowledge Bob Arum is Manny Pacquiao's promoter and Bob Arum is the only authorized to negotiation on behalf of Pacquiao. Floyd is his own boss. Bob Arum is Manny's boss in terms of business."

    http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/170375-arum-eyes-mayweather-pacquiao
    http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/a-floyd-mayweather
    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11260.html
NOVEMBER 27, 2011

NOVEMBER 28, 2011

  • Richard Schaefer says Bob Arum is a lying snake; reiterates that no negotiations are taking place and offers evidence to prove that Bob Arum informed them that he is not interested in negotiating a fight with Mayweather.

    "The boxing fans are really sick and tired about the lies of Bob Arum. The fact is that yesterday he was lying, today he's lying, and tomorrow, he will still be lying. Once a liar, always a liar. Now, he comes again with these bullshit stories about negotiatiations and meetings taking place. Who the heck is he fooling...Who is he trying to fool? The public, the fight fans, the fighters, the networks? Everybody is sick and tired of that lying snake. Everybody is sick and tired. Arum does not want to make the Pacquiao fight, so stop believing everything this guy says," Schaefer explained. "We were informed by a retired federal judge that Arum is not interested at this time in pursuing a fight with Mayweather. Arum went on the record to say that neither he nor anyone else from Top Rank had ever talked to the judge, so is he saying that the retired federal judge is lying? I have an e-mail that will confirm it, and, with Bob's approval, I will be happy to make it available to the media."

    http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/170387-schaefer-arum-sparring
NOVEMBER 28, 2011

  • Richard Schaefer accuses Bob Arum of secretly negotiating a fourth fight with Juan Manuel Marquez.

    "Let's be clear as to what is going on here. He wants to use Floyd as leverage to get a better deal for Marquez. You read the stories that Marquez wants $20 million, and for the fight not to take place in Las Vegas. Well, by creating stories that negotiations with Floyd are ongoing, he wants to see how fast Marquez will come to the table and be much more reasonable. That's what is going on here," said Schaefer.

    http://ringtv.craveonline.com/blog/170387-schaefer-arum-sparring
NOVEMBER 29, 2011

  • Bob Arum reiterates that he's talking to multiple investors, but declines naming them; says Richard Schaefer is in the dark because they're not involved and hint that a different date will be needed due to a cut that Manny Pacquiao is healing from.

    "That's why we have (Pacquiao agent Michael) Koncz carrying the ball on this right now. That is why he went to the Mayweather gym and met and spoke to Floyd. Michael was invited there by one of the three groups," Arum commented. "Everything is subject to negotiation and I will take the offers to Manny and, if Manny agrees then we can go to Floyd...One group from New York approached me initially and I think the other two made their approach to Koncz." He continued, "It's understandable because Richard is on the outside looking in," Arum said. "Who knows and who cares what Richard says? They have no contract with Floyd, that's fact. Just like Manny, aside from our contract with him, can choose who he wants representing him so can Floyd do the same thing. We don't tell Floyd or Manny who they can have working for them." Arum would also add, "Manny needs time for that eye cut (from the Nov. 12 Marquez III bout) to heal properly."

    http://www.boxingscene.com/arum-who-cares-what-schaefer
NOVEMBER 30, 2011

NOVEMBER 30, 2011

DECEMBER 1, 2011

  • FightHype.com is contacted by Carl Harris, Owner and CEO of Big InterSports Group, one of the investors that Bob Arum is meeting with; reveals Top Rank was initially contacted with $150 million offer in April.

    FightHype's own Ben Thompson receives a text message from Carl Harris, Owner and CEO of Big InterSports Group, an investment group based in California who approached him earlier in the year expressing their interest in the mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao. The text message read, "Dude you fucked up by dissing me. Watch the news. Just to let you know I am in new york in bob arums suite. You do the math." Shortly after receiving the text message, FightHype released details about the background of Carl Harris and the offer that his investment group presented to Top Rank Promotions nearly 8 months prior to getting his meeting with Arum. "I put the offer together and I have a group of investors from Los Angeles as far as China backing me on my position on this fight. That's why I'm able to put together $150 million for this fight and convince them to allow me to pay $25 milllion up front and show our seriousness on the fight. A lot of people are saying, "Who are these people?" Okay, that's irrelevant. What's relevant is here's $25 million Pacquiao, here's $25 million Mayweather, and that's just to put your name on the contract. That's why the there's the $25 million up front, so we can be taken seriously and let people know we're dead serious," Harris first explained in an interview conducted in June. "I sent them the offer a week before the fight, his last fight [vs. Shane Mosley], so it was around the end of April. May 1st, somewhere around there."

    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11293.html
DECEMBER 2, 2011

  • Bob Arum decides to reveal the name and details of another investement group, Falcon Hawk Entertainment, the same group that visited Floyd Mayweather at his gym accompanied by Michael Koncz.

    Speaking to Michael Marley of Examiner.com, Bob Arum revealed that he had conversations with investors from Falcoln Hawk Entertainment, a group that includes music promoter Donny Rucker and 83-year-old Joseph Jackson [of Jackson 5 fame], who both accompanied Michael Koncz on his visit to Floyd Mayweather's gym. Rucker, who also spoke to Marley, described details of their visit with Mayweather. "Floyd was very friendly to Koncz, he showed him some Southern hospitality in that meeting. They spoke while Floyd was wearing his trunks and gloves but he was extremely friendly to Koncz and a guy named Cesar, a Filipino guy who came to the gym with Koncz," Rucker explained. "Was Joe Jackson at the meeting? Yes, he was, he absolutely was there. I think Koncz was very amazed at how nice Floyd was to him that day...I've got a call in to Al Haymon now and I am waiting to hear back from him. We're ready with money for both fighters. We're giving money to Floyd first and then to Manny." According to Marley, Rucker also revealed that they were targeting a later date, Memorial Day weekend, and multiple locations, including Las Vegas, Miami, and Dallas, for the bout.

    http://www.boxingscene.com/arum-rucker-reveal
DECEMBER 2, 2011

DECEMBER 3, 2011

  • Floyd Mayweather says lies are being told; denies negotiations are taking place.

    In a phone conversation, Mayweather states that "absolutely no negotiations are taking place" and makes it clear that any negotiation that does take place will involve his adviser, Al Haymon, as well as Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe. Mayweather also said that whatever is being put out to the media regarding himself is a lie and that he's convinced that Bob Arum does not want to make the fight because there's no need to talk to investors for a fight that does not need any. Mayweather would further discuss details of Koncz's visit to the gym, explaining that his uncles, Jeff and Roger Mayweather, were simply being used by individuals who were looking to get close to him in hopes of pushing their own agenda. Just as Ellerbe explained, Mayweather said he was simply shaking out at the gym when his Uncle Jeff asked him if some guy could in. Not wanting to be rude, Mayweather obliged, thinking that it was simply a fan wanting to take a picture. At which point, Koncz walked in, introduced himself, and immediately began talking about making a fight. Having absolutely no idea who he was, it was the fist time that Mayweather had ever heard the name Michael Koncz, so he politely let him finish his pitch before informing him that there was absolutely nothing to talk about until his defamation lawsuit is cleared up. Mayweather would also dispute the claim that his fiancee, Shantel Jackson, was the niece of Joe Jackson, stating, "Miss Jackson is no kin to Joe Jackson, does not know Joe Jackson, and does not get involved in my boxing business."

    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11299.html
DECEMBER 3, 2011

  • Source reveals that Donny Rucker and Falcon Hawk Entertainment had already pitched an offer and were turned down twice before.

    Shortly after getting off the phone with Mayweather, FightHype.com was told by a source that this is not the first time that Donny Rucker had tried to pitch an offer for the fight. On two previous occassions, he had already been turned down.

    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11299.html
DECEMBER 4, 2011

  • Bob Arum again suggests that the May 5 date may be too soon for Pacquiao.

    According to Bob Arum, the cut that Manny Pacquiao sustained in his November 12 bout against Juan Manuel Marquez may not be healed in time for him to face Floyd Mayweather on the proposed May 5 date. "Nobody has a date for anything. That's nonsense. The question is if a Floyd Mayweather-Pacquiao fight can be arranged. That's fine. It doesn't necessarily have to be on May 5. I mean, if Floyd wants to fight Pacquiao, maybe another date is preferrable, given the fact that Pacquiao had a serious cut in the last fight, so there's no magic in May 5 as far as we're concerned," Arum would tell reporters at the post-fight press conference following the rematch between Miguel Cotto and Antonio Margarito.

    http://www.thesweetscience.com/news/articles/13740-cotto-margarito-arum
    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11320.html
DECEMBER 5, 2011

  • Falcon Hawk Entertainment releases pictures from visit to Mayweather's gym as "proof" that some kind of meeting did in fact take place.

    Michael Marley releases two pictures, obtained from Falcon Hawk Entertainment, taken during their visit to Floyd Mayweather's gym. One picture shows Floyd Mayweather in handwraps apparently untieing his shoes, flanked by Michael Koncz on one side of him and Joe Jackson on the other side. The other picture shows Joe Jackson posing with Floyd Mayweather. According to Marley, the meeting "ended the Cold War between the two camps. They broke through a key boxing barrier."

    http://www.examiner.com/boxing-in-national/exclusive-photos-floyd-mayweather
DECEMBER 10, 2011

  • Bob Arum suggests Floyd Mayweather's legal issues may prevent him from fighting.

    Despite the fact that Floyd Mayweather already has the MGM Grand Garden Arena on hold for his next fight, set to take place on May 5, 2012, Bob Arum suggests that Mayweather's legal issues might prevent him from being able to face Manny Pacquiao on that date. "Mayweather really can't commit anything now, because next week, he's before the courts. So if the trial is going to happen, he can't do the fight," Arum would tell Ronnie Nathanielsz of the Manila Standard Today.

    http://www.manilastandardtoday.com/insideSports.htm?f=2011/december/10/sports
    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11359.html
DECEMBER 15, 2011

  • Richard Schaefer reiterates that no negotiations are taking place; says Bob Arum is lying to fool Manny Pacquiao.

    "He can say whatever he wants. I'm astonished that some media members still give credibility to what comes out of his mouth. What Arum is saying, it's pretty sad. He's such a liar," Schaefer would tell Robert Morales of the Los Angeles Daily news. "He is making up all these stories. He is fooling some of these media members over and over again. I couldn't care less what he says. He's lying and that's all I have to say about it. There are no negotiations; they don't want to do it. He is probably doing it to fool Pacquiao, to make him think there is something going on. There is nothing going on."

    http://www.boxingscene.com/insider-notebook-schaefer-shreds-arum-bradley-more--47328#ixzz1gaP1RX00
DECEMBER 16, 2011

  • Manny Pacquiao says he heard that Floyd Mayweater is asking for $100 million.

    Speaking to Jay Dayupay of ABS-CBN News, Manny Pacquiao reveals that he heard Floyd Mayweather was asking for $100 million. "I heard he's asking $100 million. That's what he's asking for which is why the fight is not yet done," Pacquiao commented.

    http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/sports/12/16/11/pacquiao-mayweather
DECEMBER 17, 2011

  • Manny Pacquiao reveals he's willing to take a smaller purse than Floyd Mayweather.

    Manny Pacquiao announces that he's willing to take a smaller purse than Floyd Mayweather in order to make the mega-fight a reality. "Walang problema kahit na mas maliit ang premyo ko. Ang importante ay matuloy lang ang laban," Pacquiao would relay to Manila Bulletin journalist Nick Giongco from his home in General Santos City, which loosely translated means, "I have no problem taking smaller prize. The important thing is making the fight."

    http://www.mb.com.ph/articles/345203/pacquiao-agrees-smaller-purse
    http://www.fighthype.com/pages/content11391.html
With the holidays fast approaching, the teacher has given us a few days off. Rest assured, class will soon be back in session, so stay tuned!



[ Follow Ben Thompson on Twitter @fighthype ]
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