Talks of possible Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight reached a greater height after the two fighters met at the Miami Heat-Milwaukee Bucks game last week.
The two even exchanged numbers. Reports also claimed they met at Pacquiao's hotel and had a meaningful discussion.
Talking about the possible fight between this generation's most decorated boxers is surely pleasurable. However, according to the head of a network with whom Mayweather works with, media must stop posting news about Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight talks because some of them are not true. He insisted there's nothing significant yet about the two fighters' chit-chat.
"These series of reports that the fight is done is completely baffling to us," said Showtime Sports head Stephen Espinoza in an interview with Boxing Scene website.
"Rick, this deal is not close to being done and everyone involved knows that. Top Rank's lawyers have said tat there are significant open issues, so I don't understand how Bob (Arum, Top Rank CEO), can conceivably be saying the fight is imminent and will be closed within the next couple of days."
Before Espinoza's comments about the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight, the undefeated American fighter also addressed rumors that the fight is closer to happening through his Instagram account with the caption:
"Laying back, relaxing, enjoying good weather, palm trees, and piña coladas. While they continue to lie about making the fight... I'm just going to continue to travel and explore the world on my private jet. #FightNotMadeYet"
In a separate interview with the Fight Hype, Espinoza also accused Bob Arum of pressuring Floyd Jr. to sign the contract through his media appearances saying the fight is on.
"A lot of the stuff that has come out from Arum is baffling to us. I can only guess as to what his motives may be. Maybe he thinks that this is creating some public pressure on Floyd to get the deal done, but the irony of the whole thing is no one needs to pressure Floyd. Floyd has wanted this all along," Espinoza said.
"If people saw the terms that have been negotiated, it's clear Floyd wants to make a deal. He doesn't need this PR campaign to convince him that he needs to make the deal. He wants to do it for himself, for the fans, for the sport of boxing, and no one needs to pressure him into making that fight. Then you start to wonder if someone is consistently mischaracterizing the negotiations and trying to demean the other side, is that person really trying to make a deal? Someone who's trying to make a deal doesn't go out and publicly misrepresent what's going on with the negotiations. It's a complete mystery to us."
Is the Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs. Manny Pacquiao fight going to happen?
Keep tuning in here at Franchise Herald for the latest updates.
