Left-Hook Lounge Mailbag: Mayweather vs Pacquiao, Roc-Nation, Andre Ward, Broner, & More!

01/12/201501/12/2015 Vivek Wallace

Jason H. (Brooklyn, NYC): I was very shocked to see your post last week about Mayweather and Pacquiao and the fact that the fight is nearly signed. Considering all that has happened since this fight was first discussed, can you give your thoughts on the road to get here and what you think it will be like once they actually fight?

Vivek W.: The road to get here…..all the drama between the two camps, the lies, the lawsuits, the subsequent bouts…..it’s been a hell of a ride, but truthfully, I don’t know if I’d change any of it. The buildup we’ve just experienced is unlike any we’ll ever experience again. Some say the fight is years too late. I say there’s never a bad time to see a good fight. When you examine things closely, both men have appeared to slow down a bit. That being said, they both remain head and shoulders above practically all of their contemporaries! Styles make fights, and this showdown is no different.

Pacquiao expects Mayweather fight to happen, says announcement coming before end of month

01/11/2015 Rob Smith

In what has to be seen as a positive sign that the negotiations are going well, Manny Pacquiao is saying that he expects to make an announcement about his mega-fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr taking place before the end of January. Pacquiao says he thinks the fight will be taking place.
A lot can still happen between now and before the end of the month, but it’s very good news that Pacquiao is saying that he sees the Mayweather fight taking place.

“We will make an announcement before the end of the month” and added “I think it (the fight” will happen,” Pacquiao said via Philboxing.com.

Mayweather v Pacquiao: Prepare For Disappointment

01/12/201501/11/2015 Mark Klimaszewski

The ongoing saga (or soap opera, depending on who you speak to) of the “will they, won’t they” couple; boxing’s top two 147lbers who have kept the fans and public guessing for way too long now, leaving many completely indifferent to whether the fight will actually happen or not; Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao have led us all on a merry dance, and now are allegedly close to confirming a showdown sometime in the first half of 2015.

With the relevance of this fight significantly reduced since its first incarnation was discussed way back in 2009 (hard to believe it’s gone on that long now), most people I speak to now are totally uninterested and pretty much say the same thing: “I’ll believe it when the bell rings”.

Pacquiao vs. Mayweather Jr.: Start saving your pennies?

01/10/2015 Vitali Shaposhnikov

It’s close, very close. According to various recent reports, the fight venue as well as the drug testing issue has been ironed out and agreed upon. As always, the last and most important piece is the finances, which is likely the only thing keeping the signatures off the contract for now.

The fight, if comes to fruition, will take place at MGM Grand arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. The possible date has not yet been declared, but if not the most likely and Floyd’s favorite month of May, I would strongly assume that June would be the month to host the biggest boxing match in recent history.

Mayweather-Pacquiao fight could get done in 7-10 days

01/10/2015 Rob Smith

The mega-fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr and Pacquiao could get done in the next week to week and a half, according to an inside source that spoke to LA Times writer Lance Pugmire on Friday. The blood testing and venue have both been agreed on, and now the only thing that’s left to iron out is the purse split for the fight.

We’re making progress,” the source told Pugmire at Latimes.com.

The purse split is the tricky part. Pacquiao is said to be okay with getting a 60-40 deal with Mayweather getting the lion’s share, but it’s unclear whether that’s a good enough deal for Mayweather to agree to.

Roach: Mayweather-Pacquiao fight is looking good

01/10/2015 Rob Smith

Manny Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach is feeling pretty good about the negotiations that are taking place between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. However, Roach notes that there’s still a long ways to go before the fight gets made. Roach doesn’t know what’s going on specifically with the negotiations but he’s hearing positive stuff.

According to the LA Times, the blood testing and venue have both been agreed on. The thing that still remains incomplete is the purse split. 60-40 is one number that’s been mentioned.

Khan: Mayweather’s running, who wants to see Khan-Pacquiao?

01/07/2015 Bill Phanco

Amir Khan says that Floyd Mayweather Jr is running from him because he won’t agree to fight him. Khan instead is now targeting Manny Pacquiao for his next fight if the Filipino fighter doesn’t end up facing Mayweather next on May 2nd.

“Who wants to see Khan vs. Pacquiao because I know Mayweather’s running,” Khan said on his twitter.

I’m sure that a lot of boxing fans would love to see Pacquiao face Khan. If the only other alternative to a Mayweather fight is Jessie Vargas, then I can see a lot of fans seeing Khan as a much better choice. However, Khan is managed by Al Haymon, which would seem to be a huge barrier for Khan getting a fight against Pacquiao due to Haymon not working with Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum.

Is Pacquiao’s management trying to call the shots with Mayweather?

01/07/2015 Rob Smith

If Floyd Mayweather Jr wants the mega-fight against Manny Pacquiao then he’s going to need to hurry up and finish the negotiations in the next three weeks, because Pacquiao’s personal assistant Michael Koncz is saying that the Pacquiao-Mayweather negotiations have until the end of the month before they go in another direction and start looking for another opponent.

Koncz: “We’re giving this [Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiations] until the end of the month”

01/07/2015 Vitali Shaposhnikov

History has proven, that negotiations between team Mayweather Jr. and team Pacquiao mean very little. After numerous attempts, the result has always yielded zero progress.

This time around, Mayweather Jr. called out Pacquiao in the most direct fashion thus far, by naming the date he is willing to fight. After a consistent back-and-forth between the two fighters via various social media outlets, according to Bob Arum the negotiations are slowly moving forward.

Still, it seems as though team Pacquiao is not willing to play this game for too long, wasting time and losing an opportunity to secure another big fight if need be.

Amir Khan wants Pacquiao fight

01/06/201501/05/2015 Vitali Shaposhnikov

After his recent, and fourth in a row victory over Devon Alexander (26-3-0), Amir Khan (30-3-0) seems to be back on the paved track to a mega-fight.

After a loss to Lamont Peterson in 2011, and a brutal TKO loss to Danny Garcia in 2012, Khan’s future seemed to be escaping his grasp. In boxing, a couple losses in a row can nosedive a career, weakening a possibility for a huge payday.