If Ali asked for 60-40, would the FOTC ever happeneed

It's been years since I thought about the purse split for Ali-Frazier I, but I assume you are correct about the 50/50. My guess is that an Ali demand for 60/40 would have killed the fight. Frazier and his people would have felt insulted, and balked. Negotiations would have stretched into 1972 before a deal was reached.

 

About Mayweather, you're asking a good question. On one hand, I can't imagine why he'd balk at fighting Pac, given the money involved. And Mayweather has got to feel he'd beat Pac in the ring, so I'd be surprised if self confidence were an issue here.

On the other hand, when we're talking $200M in total purse money, a 60/40 split translates into $120M for Mayweather, against $80M for Pac. There's no rational reason for Pac to settle for short money. $40M is a huge difference in purses. Mayweather is not being rational.

I don't know what Mayweather is thinking.

 

I don't think he wants the fight.

 

He'll be sorry one day when he ends up skint.

 

I don't believe this context applied here.FOTC was a fight between two of the best heavyweight at that time,and both was undefeated.This is a fight where both fighters have a legitimate claim to the heavyweight title.That's the actual draw in this fight.I don't believe that same can be said about the Pacquiao and Mayweather

And talking about flip-floping,both fighters have done their sides of flip-floping.

I think this is fight is hard to make because both fighters have a lot at stake.Floyd Mayweather had his undefeated record at stake,whereas Manny Pacquiao had his pound for pound status at stake.Can't just blame one guy in this scenario

 

If the purse is split 50/50, each guy gets $100M. If it's split 60/40, then $20M is taken out of Pac's purse and put, literally, in Mayweather's pocket.

$20M is a lot of money. I don't see how Mayweather can rationally make this demand.

 

Everything that I have seen suggests that Floyd's numbers are greater than Pacquiao's; greater gates, greater PPV et al. If you bring more to the table, you should take away more.

 

No.

 

Though they each pulled in $2,500,000

No way would Joe Frazier, Yank Durham and Cloverlay, Inc. have stood
for anything less, than a 50/50 split.

It would have been like 'Smokin Joe' saying, 'that Ali was the better man.'

A smart tactical move by Yank Durham though, coming out early and saying
'both fighters should not be greedy, and agree to an even split.'

 

Comparing apples to oranges really. How many PPVs did Frazier sell?

 

Exactly.

 

On what grounds did Ali have to ask for 60/40? Frazier was the reigining champion going in. I know the T.S. is trying to compare this to Mayweather/Pacquiao, but they are diffrent siuations.

 

Even if he takes the fight at 50/50, there's every chance he'll end up skint anyway.

 

Not in most fans' eyes.