Dan Rafael at MSG
Rafael is the man when it comes to boxing and journalism and whether you consider him the best writer is one thing, but he’s easily the most read. The man has 150,000 plus followers on Twitter, a number that no other boxing scribe comes close to.
Last night Rafael attended MSG in New York with other boxing aficionados, the new promoter Jay Z, who brought along Rihanna, among them. They watched Dusty Hernandez-Harrison vanquish Tommy Rainone on points and while there Rafael talked to contacts about a Mayweather-Pacquiao fight in 2015. Once having done so he tweeted this:
Dont know if MP-FM makes, but heard details 2day from some1 who knows (not Arum) exactly wassup that for 1st time makes me think legit chance.
Mayweather-Pacquiao talks heat up
Again, Rafael’s not the only one that is suggesting an announcement is coming. Another encouraging story came from the L.A. Times yesterday, who said a boxing official involved in the talks, who they declined to name, said the two camps are “very close.” That source said they should have it signed in the next seven to 10 days, as Digital Journal reported here yesterday.
That boxing official said the venue (MGM Grand in Las Vegas), the manner of drug testing and even the money split has essentially been agreed upon (Mayweather takes the money fight 60-40) but they continue to haggle over the date.
Showtime and HBO will likely do a joint broadcast of the superfight.
It’s a fight that Rafael very much wants and he has put it at the top of his wish list for the year and wrote that “At the risk of repeating myself, Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather Jr.: Fight or don’t. It has been six years. Enough.” Mayweather and Pacquiao, in that order, remain one-two in ESPNs ranking of the top pound for pound fighters in boxing.
Another voice that said the fight is close is Pacquiao’s long-time trainer, Freddie Roach. If he’s onboard, it surely is not far off. The date most often heard is May 2 but the Times suggested it could be as late as June.
