Floyd calls Manny on the phone
Floyd Mayweather has spoken to Manny Pacquiao by telephone to discuss a possible fight in May.
Leonard Ellerbe, Mayweather’s adviser, confirmed the call to ESPN on Thursday. And Pacquiao’s promoter, Bob Arum, did the same to BoxingScene.com.
Pacquiao spoke to ABS-CBN in the Philippines about their short conversation.
The Filipino report quoted Pacquiao as saying there would be no problem if Mayweather would agree to a 50-50 split of income from what is expected to be the richest fight in boxing history if it ever comes off.
Unbeaten American Mayweather and Pacquiao, regarded as the world's top boxers, pound for pound, nearly made a deal for a fight once before but the American's insistence on anti-doping blood tests helped kill the talks.
This time, Mayweather has a May 5 date booked at a Las Vegas arena. Arum wants a late May date to enable builders to complete a huge outdoor arena. The extra ticket sales could boost profits by up to $50 million (nearly R400 billion).
"Floyd wants to fight Manny Pacquiao on May 5 and he went as far as to reach out to Manny Pacquiao personally," Ellerbe said.
Ellerbe told ESPN that Mayweather called from Las Vegas to the Philippines after earlier this month calling out Pacquiao on Twitter, taunting "Step Up, Punk" to the world welterweight champion.
Mayweather has spoken to Pacquiao’s adviser Michael Koncz several times in recent weeks, according to all reports.
Pacquiao, who has a record of 54-3, with two drawn and 32 knockouts, has won his past 15 fights over a span of nearly seven years.
Mayweather, 42-0 with 26 knockouts, must serve a 90-day jail sentence starting on June 1 after a domestic violence conviction.
Arum said the issue of whom Pacquiao would next fight would be resolved next week.
He named four possible opponents: Puerto Rico's Miguel Cotto and Americans Lamont Peterson, Tim Bradley and Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez.