Manny Pacquiao Agrees to Terms for Potential Floyd Mayweather Fight on May 2

Correspondent IIIJanuary 14, 2015

FILE - In this June 16, 2012, file photo, former welterweight world champion Manny Pacquiao flashes the sign of peace during a Mass in Manila, Philippines. Champion boxers Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Pacquiao have reached a confidential settlement Tuesday, Sept. 25, 2012, in their federal defamation case in Las Vegas. Attorneys for all sides say the terms won't be disclosed. (AP Photo/Pat Roque, file)

Associated Press

The superfight boxing fans have dreamed of and long been denied between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. may at last be coming to fruition on May 2.

Promoter Bob Arum told Yahoo! Sports' Kevin Iole on Tuesday that Pac-Man's camp has agreed to the terms, as have Mayweather's representatives, who've spoken with Arum. However, it's Mayweather's camp that is holding up an official agreement, according to Arum:

I'm not trying to force anybody's hand, I'm just saying, 'Hey, we've agreed to everything, period.' The people we have talked to on Mayweather's side have agreed to everything. Now we need Mayweather to step up and say, 'Yeah, I'm on board. I agree.'
[...] I think Manny has been very reasonable and demonstrated that he wants the fight to happen. Now, we're waiting on Floyd. That's not to say that Floyd has been obstinate, that Floyd won't do it, but we're waiting on him.

Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated passed along some thoughts from Showtime executive Stephen Espinoza and added details regarding Mayweather's desire to enter the ring with perhaps the biggest potential challenger to his perfect 47-0 record:

Chris Mannix @ChrisMannixYS
Spoke to @StephenEspinoza recently. Said as far as Mayweather was concerned, he wants Pacquiao. No Plan B. Conversations are ongoing.

Chris Mannix @ChrisMannixYS
That said, I believe Mayweather-Pacquiao is as close as its been since 2011. Some big hurdles have been crossed. But a ways to go.

Mannix also alluded to how cable TV competitors HBO and Showtime will loom large in determining whether the bout will actually materialize:

Chris Mannix @ChrisMannixYS
Another thing: HBO and Showtime aren't just going to magically agree to broadcast terms. These are two powerful entities. Complicated deal.

Robert Littal of BlackSportsOnline weighed in on Tuesday's news:

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Robert Littal @BSO
It appears Pac has basically agreed to Mayweather's split and letting Mayweather get all the extra $$$. Great deal for Floyd IF he signs

Mayweather has spurned Pacquiao in the past, more recently due to a slump in form. Losses to Timothy Bradley by decision and rival Juan Manuel Marquez by knockout called into question Pac-Man's commitment to the sweet science.

Doubts have diminished since then, as Pacquiao has gone on to three unanimous-decision wins over Brandon Rios, Bradley and Chris Algieri. Those triumphs defeat any argument that Pacquiao isn't a worthy Mayweather adversary.

With both Pacquiao and Mayweather seemingly determined to comply, it appears as likely as ever that the two will square off in mere months. Whatever happens in the event that the fight comes to pass will shape both their legacies and go down as one of the biggest bouts in boxing history.