Pac- man open to smaller purse
Filipino star’s manager confirms talks are on for the dream matchup against Mayweather
Manny Pacquiao is open to taking a smaller purse in a dream matchup with undefeated American Floyd Mayweather, the Philippines boxing hero’s business manager said yesterday.
“The talks are already going on. It is more of what the fans want. It’s not about the pay ( level). That’s the least of his concerns,” Pacquiao’s business manager Eric Pineda said.
Pineda declined to discuss the amounts of money involved, but in 2012 there was speculation that a fight between the two could lead to the first $ 200 million purse in boxing history.
Pacquiao defeated Chris Algieri, another once- undefeated American boxer, in Macau on Sunday in a successful defence of his World Boxing Organization crown before throwing down the gauntlet to Mayweather, saying “It’s been a long time since I’ve been wanting this fight, it has to happen”.
Sunday’s fight saw Pacquiao, one of the world’s richest sportsmen, knock down Al- gieri six times, convincing fans that the Filipino, who turns 36 next month, remains in shape to face Mayweather, 37.
Mayweather potentially has more to lose in a fight against Pacquiao. He has a perfect 47- 0 record and has won world titles at five different weights, but a defeat at the Filipino’s hands could blot that streak.
The two were long- time rivals as the “best pound- for-pound” boxer of their generation, but the dream fight has never materialised.
Mayweather, the world’s light middleweight champion, has previously demanded a bigger share of the fight purse as a condition for agreeing to any fight with Pacquiao.
Other conditions, including a blood test, have delayed any fight between the two despite anticipation of a huge payday for such a match.
In the meantime however, the Filipino intends to resume his other sporting interest today as playing coach for the Kia team in the Philippines’ competitive professional basketball league, Pineda said.
The pint- size Pacquiao made a dismal pro ball debut last month, turning the ball over twice while failing to get off a shot in nearly seven minutes of action as his team’s starting guard.—shooting