It really seems to be in the balance now. And team-Pac litigious spree makes me suspect they don't this thing to happen. Think it'll happen?
Although Pac is in hiding and is feeling sorry for himself right now and won't return any of Roach's calls I think the fight still happens in March/May. The public is demanding this fight and especially with all the current hype and vitriol it will be the richest fight in history by far.
If, If.... in fact, Pacquiao is relenting because he used and wants to continue using PEDs, and PBF will not back off from his demand, then my guess is, Pacquiao will want to make an interim fight first, make as much money for it as possible, then fight PBF late in the year, adhereing to whatever demands there are, and then retire.
If this fight doesn't happen then there isn't much hope for other fights to be made. With the amount of money on the table for these guys they should be able to make a deal and easily.
I don't think that PBF will ever genuinely seek out the greatest challenges available to him. I admit, I thought he'd prove me wrong for a while there with Manny, but he found a way to avoid the fight as I originally suspected he would.
he's found success and accolades taking on smaller fighters (Hatton, JMM), while avoiding "real" welterweights. because of that, i wasn't sure he would duck Pacquiao. what will be interesting to see is if the Pacquiao fight doesn't happen, if PBF will face either Mosley or Berto. if his past is any indication, he will not since he seems dead set against fighting the top guys at 147. unfortunately, i think we'll have to wait until PBF is broke before he'll take a real risk. maybe it's giving PBF too much credit, but it could be the case that he's watched his father and uncle give so much to the game for so little, that he doesn't respect the sport the way most guys at his level do. then again, PBF is probably incapable of reflection like that.
From yesterdays announcements it seemed that Bob was willing to use his leverage to make the fight happen asap. I can't see why he of all people would be against the biggest money fight ever....
You're a freaking fool if you think Floyd is ducking Manny. Even Roach thinks the fight can be made in 2 seconds if they just let him talk to Manny.
I hope you're right. I just have seen nothing recently to suggest that PBF is remotely interested in accepting the greatest available challenges.
Taking a 50-50 split? Agreeing to the ridiculous demand of paying 10 million dolars for every pound overweight? Having Schaefer not give up and try to make the deal happen to the end and not talk about walking away from the fight unlike Arum? Seriously man, look around and see the truth.
50-50 is fair. Weighing in @ the limit is fair/ normal/ standard proceedure. What isn't standard proceedure is: Fighter A is abiding by the rules & is prepared to go ahead with the fight as per standard procedure. Fighter B want's to add an unprecedented (not included in the rules, NOT as per standard procedure) stipulation or he won't fight. Fan A thinks that fighter A should be able to proceed like he & fighter B (and every other fighter in history up to this point) and go ahead with the fight as per standard procedure and not have to change simply because his opponent wants him to. "Fan" B thinks that because fighter A wants to proceed like he & fighter B (and every other fighter in history up to this point) and go ahead with the fight as per standard procedure & does not want to comply with an unprecedented (not included in the rules, NOT as per standard procedure) stipulation simply because his opponent wants him to, must be a cheat and musn't want the fight.
Everyone keeps saying son confidently that there is too much money not to make the fight happen. But neither one of these guys are broke. That's why there is no urgency from either camp to give in. Plus they have options since there the top two guys in the sport. That changes the prospect of making this fight at all. I am not saying it won't happen but even when they planned for a March date I thought they were rushing it a bit. Hopefully at the end of 2010!
In March looks less and less likely everyday. Like LK said it will most likely happen in September now. The way these negotiations are going it will take 6 Months to negotiate everything.
