IF MANNY Pacquiao and his promoter Bob Arum want the fight with Floyd Mayweather Jr. to push through, they must do what they are told, the brash undefeated American said.
“I’m in control,” Mayweather said in an interview with FightHype.com that appeared on YouTube.
“When I say I’m ready to go, I’m ready to go. I fight when I want to fight.”
Mayweather called out on Pacquiao earlier this week to fight him, but wants the much-awaited clash to happen on May 2.
Arum finds the date unacceptable, however, as it has reportedly been reserved for a big fight between Miguel Cotto, a Puerto Rican, and Canelo Alvarez of Mexico.
According to Arum, the May 2 weekend is part of Cinco de Mayo, an important Mexican holiday when Mexican fighters are usually given priority to fight in the main event.
Mayweather said that if Arum really wants to honor the Mexicans, the Cotto-Alvarez fight should be held in Mexico.
He also insisted that Pacquiao is in no position to negotiate.
Describing himself as the “A-side” and Pacquiao as the “B-side”, Mayweather said he was in the same predicament when he fought and beat Oscar De La Hoya, formerly boxing’s poster boy, in 2007.
He said that since he was the “B-side” then, he agreed to whatever De La Hoya wanted—everything from fight weight, gloves and venue to revenue sharing.
All he needed to do then was show up for the fight, said Mayweather.
Now that he is “in control,” Mayweather wants a complete say on the fight with Pacquiao, who always acts in consultation with Arum.