The reason could be that there is still enough time for him and Pacquiao to train and for the promoters to sell the fight.
Usually boxers need at least eight weeks of rigorous training before the day of the fight and if the fight is set for May 2, there would still be sufficient time to train.
But the window to the May 2 fight is getting narrower by the day and Mayweather and Pacquiao need to sign the fight contract before the end of the month.
Mayweather and Pacquiao can start training now if they are indeed committed to the May 2 fight without necessarily waiting for the signed contract.
But it is also important especially for Pacquiao to be definite about the fight happening on May 2 because his training will be based on the fighting style of his opponent.
Pacquiao’s trainer Freddie Roach cannot devise a fight plan if he does not know who would be Pacquiao’s next opponent because he would not have any knowledge about the opponent’s strength and weaknesses.
Roach says the fight is getting closer if indeed it will be made on May 2 as previously announced by Mayweather in an interview on CBS/Showtime TV coverage of a weekend boxing event.
“I need eight weeks. That window is getting smaller and smaller,” Roach said.
The situation is a bit difficult for Pacquiao because of the possibility that Mayweather may walk away from the ongoing talks and announce an opponent not named Manny Pacquiao.
The unnecessary delay in announcing the result of the ongoing fight talks is working in favor of Mayweather because he knows exactly how to formulate his training strategy as he and his trainer are aware of the identity of his next opponent.
There are still nine weeks left between now and May 2 considering that February has only 28 days in the calendar and it is possible Mayweather will announce the fight any day now.
It is also possible that he may do so on his 38th birthday on February 24 but sources close to the negotiating parties including Lance Pugmire of the Los Angeles Times say that the announcement could be out this week.
