Team Pacquiao: It’s all up to Mayweather
WBO welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao, center, celebrates after defeating WBO junior welterweight champion Chris Algieri of the United States during their welterweight title boxing match at the Venetian Macao in Macau, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014. AP
MACAU—Manny Pacquiao is opening all avenues so that his dream fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. can push through.
Pacquiao won’t mind it even if the undefeated American bides his time, takes the bigger purse, or sets other terms, according to Mike Koncz, the Filipino superstar’s Canadian adviser.
“I don’t want to put a timetable on it,” Koncz said. “We have to fight Floyd to cement Manny’s legacy.”
Pacquiao is already assured of his place in boxing’s Hall of Fame as the only fighter to win world titles in eight weight divisions.
Belying Mayweather’s claim that Pacquiao wants the fight because the country’s richest congressman has tax problems, Koncz said money isn’t Pacquiao’s main concern.
“The main reason is that Manny is getting tired of everybody asking him [about the fight],” Koncz said. “Fighting Mayweather will give him substantial money, but that’s not the driving force behind it.
“He’s an entertainer. He wants to entertain people. That’s why he wants to get that fight.”
While promoter Bob Arum of Top Rank is optimistic the megabuck showdown will finally push through in the first half of next year, Koncz remains pessimistic.
“Until I hear something from Floyd, I don’t hold high hopes,” Koncz told Filipino sportswriters Sunday night after Pacquiao’s devastating victory over Chris Algieri in their clash for Pacquiao’s World Boxing Organization welterweight crown at Cotai Arena of The Venetian Macao.
“We’ve been trying for the past five or six years to put this fight together,” said Koncz, who is privy to past negotiations between the two camps.
“Prior to the [Antonio] Margarito fight, I put him (Mayweather) on the phone with Manny. I had the opportunity to speak to him. I was pleasantly surprised, he’s a great guy himself.”
Koncz added that Pacquiao is willing to go the extra mile to secure the fight.
“We’re very reasonable,” he said. “We’re not going for the lion’s share. If this fight happens, it’s because Floyd wants it to happen. It’s not going to matter what we want, it’s not going to matter what HBO wants, what Arum wants, what (Richard) Schaefer wants.”
Asked what the team would do if Mayweather continues to evade the fight, Koncz said they have an alternative plan for Pacquiao to revert to the 140-pound division.
“What people don’t understand … is that [Pacquiao] is fighting at a weight much higher than his natural body weight,” Koncz said.
“It’s not because Manny lost his power, but because these guys are bigger and stronger. They are used to the power punches.
“I think he proved [Sunday night] that fighting at a lighter weight, he can stand on his own. Our goal is [for him] to come down to 140. I think there’s a lot of exciting fights there that fans are willing to pay, willing to see.”
