The Secret Formula for getting Mayweather to fight Pacquiao
For many boxing analysts the world over, Manny Pacquiao remains the best fighter on the planet. That is, at least until Floyd “forgot about the joy of fighting” Mayweather decides to take him up on his challenge and beat him in the ring. These facts generate a very basic question. If Pacquiao is the best fighter in the world, why isn’t he making the most money in the biz? Why does “Money” Mayweather still have more ching and bling? (In Kings’ James English: why doth he earnth more?)
Indeed, this financial fight between these two, pound-for-pound, isn’t close. Not even by British currency measures. If it was hard to miss all of the ridiculous pictures Mayweather posts on a day to day basis of him holding stacks of cash in some mansion on his twitter, here’s the official breakdown: for his fight with Juan Manuel Marquez, Floyd took in a whooping $19 M. That leaves about six tacos for Marquez. And against Mosley in May, he snagged another $22 M. In comparison, Pacquiao took home $12 M in his fight with Cotto, a fight in which he dominated a guy who is naturally a few divisions heavier than him.
Where’s the justice here? What is Pacquiao doing about the situation, if anything? Certainly, you have to wonder why Pacquiao hasn’t (or maybe he has) voiced the very legitimate concern. But voiced or not, Pacquiao should be pulling Bob Arum aside to say: “Bobby, what’s up? I’m the pound-for-pound guy on almost everyone’s list, I’m a congressmen and an international superstar. Why am I still earning less than this annoying guy, who won’t even respond to my challenges and is obviously having an early retirement party?”
A suggestion by Michael Marley of Boxing Examiner is worth stating. Marley suggests paying Pacquiao $22,000,000.01 for his upcoming November 13th bout with Antonio Margarito. That would give him exactly a penny more than Mayweather, and would mean that “Pac-man,” for the first time since, well, ever, is the highest paid boxer this side of the moon.
What better way to make Mayweather agree to terms for a fight?!
It’s obviously that insulting his skills in the ring, doubting his greatness and legacy, and even insulting his manhood doesn’t really get Mayweather going. But everyone knows what does get Mayweather going—the holy cash cow. So: if Arum were to show a bit more business savvy and take the blow of the big financial dish out, just this one time, it’s possible that the situation would well change. We know Mayweather can sleep at night being insulted and doubted as the best. But can he sleep knowing he’s not earning the best, or the most? What happens when he sees that he’s depleted to number two in the omni-valuable category?
One can only speculate on what would happen, but here’s to Mayweather having a psychological breakdown, posting it on twitter, having an hour ESPN special called “The Decision 2” a la LeBron James, and signing on for the fight.
At this point it’s well worth remembering Pacquiao’s initial assessment about Mayweather, which, at any rate, should have nothing to do with the fact that Pacquiao still brings home less. Pacquiao philosophized: "Boxing for him [Mayweather] is like a business. He doesn't care about the people around him watching. He doesn't care if the fight is boring, as long as the fight is finished and he gets (plenty of) money. ... I want people to be happy. You have a big responsibility as a boxer."
Well said Manny. Now let’s get you the bigger bag.
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