Recent developments on the ongoing Pacquiao-Mayweather fight talks show that the fight that every boxing fan wants to see indicate the likelihood of the fight negotiations falling apart for the last time.
Although Pacquiao and his camp have given Mayweather until the end of the month to sign the fight contract, all indications point to a no-fight scenario despite positive news emanating from sources close to the negotiating parties.
It appears that Mayweather is indeed having a hard time deciding with finality on his earlier announcement telling fans that he will face Pacquiao in the ring on May 2.
One of the indicators that point to Mayweather’s sudden change of mind is the news that he is considering a rematch against Miguel Cotto on May 2, effectively putting the long-delayed fight against Pacquiao on hold.
For this reason, Pacquiao’s camp immediately welcomed the idea of a possible clash between Pacquiao and British boxing sensation Amir Khan in a title fight to be held either in the United Arab Emirates or in the United Kingdom.
“I’ve told (my promoter) Oscar Dela Hoya and my team to organize a fight in Dubai,” Khan told The National newspaper last week. “I know Floyd won’t fight outside of Las Vegas, so I want the Pacquiao fight in Dubai,” said Khan, who was a recent visitor in the UAE.
“It’s the perfect place to fight: huge Filipino, Pakistani and British communities here and it will be big,” Khan added.
One of the probable spoilers would be the time difference between the US and the proposed venues as they don’t complement on prime time programming which is important in generating substantial revenues from pay-per-view sales in the US.
But other than this hurdle, the Pacquiao-Khan fight is easier to make because the promoters are in talking terms.
Pacquiao is being promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank Promotions (TR) while Khan is under the umbrella of Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions (GBP).
Arum and De la Hoya have been at odds for many years because of intense business rivalry that resulted in the deterioration of the sport where the best fighters are prevented from facing each other by their respected opposing promoters.
TR and GBP are the top boxing promotions firms and their actions and decisions shape the boxing landscape in the US and in the world as well.
Meanwhile, fight fans have just over a week to celebrate on a positive note from Mayweather or to bear the pain of not seeing the fight that they have been waiting to see.
