Can Don King Save Floyd Mayweather - Manny Pacquiao? Arum Says Yes
It’s been a big week for Don King. The infamous boxing promoter, who's taken a backseat in recent years to Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions, returned to the spotlight this week – spotted with Floyd Mayweather Jr. Mayweather failed to accept Top Rank terms for a mega-fight with Manny Pacquiao weeks ago, and King is being depicted as the only man that can resurrect the fight.
King has reportedly been courting the Ring Magazine’s No.2 fighter in the world, wining and dining, and presumably talking business prospects. Mayweather is expected to attend King’s sponsored St. Louis card this Saturday, which features local fighter Devon Alexander taking on Andriy Kotelnik.
Bob Arum, chief of Top Rank, said publicly that he thinks King is the man to get the fight going.
"King's the most persuasive guy I've ever met,” Arum said. “With enough time, he'll get this kid to come over. King's no fool, he knows how to make a fight. If he were ever involved, it would give a real impetus to make this fight happen. All those little details that have stopped us before, King doesn't give a d**n about. All he cares about is the end result—making the most money possible."
In this respect there appears to be a significant affinity with Floyd Mayweather, whose nickname is “Money,” and who frequently brags about his massive purses and seems to accept a lavish lifestyle all-around. Mayweather has worked with Golden Boy Promotions for the terms of his last 4 fights, though he is officially without a boxing promoter.
Arum and King have historically put on some of the biggest fights in the history of the sport. They were the promotional underpinnings of the third fight between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frasier, as well as the Oscar de la Hoya-Felix Trinidad bout in 1999.
Bob Arum reflected on negotiating with Don King: "You know, we'd have a really basic negotiation. We'd yell and scream at each other. But, you know, King says that it would take two hours [to come to terms], and I would say over a weekend. But I would say that over that weekend, that Don King and I would come to terms."
He also talked about future prospects: "First of all, let's not rush. Because we don't know how it's going to end up between Don King and Floyd Mayweather. But if King ultimately becomes the promoter of Floyd Mayweather, my prediction is -- and without all of the stern drama that we went through the last two times -- that Don King and I would be able to put together the match."
Arum presumed to discuss Richard Schaefer and the Golden Boy team, with whom he has had no shortage of trouble establishing terms: "I mean, you don't understand that dealing with this the first time, with these Golden Boy people, what they put us through. These nonsense points. Like whose banner you're going to wear. c**p that King and I don't give a d**n about. So, you know, we'd have a really basic negotiation. It's always great if you're dealing, to deal with another professional. Whatever you say about Don King, Don King is a true professional."
Don King was recently asked about the possibility of wooing Mayweather, and he spoke confidently: “I'm just waiting, being very patient. The power of understanding people is important. I believe he can make the most money with me because we'll show his dignity and pride — and stop people from throwing stones at him.”
Let the King’s operations begin.
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