Showtime exec: Mayweather fight on May 2
That word comes to us from the broadcaster Stephen Espinoza, head of Showtime, the broadcaster that happens to have Floyd Mayweather signed to a contract for another year. They will want a fight regardless of whether they can work out a deal with Pacquiao’s camp, and the broadcaster Pacquiao is signed to, HBO.
“He’s definitely fighting on May 2,” Espinoza told Mitch Abramson of the New York Daily News on Friday. “His first choice by far is Manny Pacquiao. If it becomes clear that that fight is not achievable, then he would move on to either Amir Khan or Miguel Cotto. He’s made it clear to us that Pacquiao is still his No. 1 priority, and that’s where all our energy is focused.”
He did not say why Cotto was one of those that he might fight. The two have met before. On May 5, 2012, Cotto was win 43 for the 47-0 Mayweather. The Junior Middleweight bout was billed as the Ring Kings and Mayweather won in a unanimous decision.
Khan and Mayweather have never fought, though Khan is pushing for a fight with him and has done for some time. Khan in fact signed a contract to fight Mayweather for the year 2014 but Mayweather went with Marcos Maidana, which turned into a two-bout affair. Mayweather said in December Khan did not have enough of a name amongst fans for him to fight and that he was focused on Pacquiao.
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao likely
Neither Cotto or Khan should get too excited, though, because Espinoza went on to speak positively of Mayweather and Pacquiao signing a contract to finally get into the ring and box. He said they had recently worked out some issues and were continuing to do so.
“I would say I’m optimistic that it can get done,” Espinoza said. “We have work to do to bridge the gap on important issues, but the most important thing is that Floyd genuinely wants it and wants it badly, and from everything I’ve heard and seen, Manny wants the fight as well.”
