Pacquiao insists on 50/50 split (Latest Interview)

By Emmanuel Villaruel (The Philippine Star) Updated June 22, 2010 12:00 AM


Negotiations for the megafight between Manny Pacquiao, right, and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

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may hit another hurdle on the fighters share of the purse.

MANILA, Philippines - Unless a 50/50 purse split will be put in place, a Manny Pacquiao superfight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. will not take place.

This was Pacquiao’s stand on the issue, saying that there is no way he’s going to climb up the ring against Mayweather if the split on prize money and other revenues are not even or in other way favorable to the unbeaten American fighter.

“ If it’s going to be a 50/50 split, the fight will definitely push through,” said Pacquiao in an exclusive interview with the Freeman at his suite at Waterfront-Cebu City Hotel and Casino last Sunday.

Pacquiao and wife Jinkee were in Cebu during the Father’s Day celebration. It was his first trip to the Queen City of the South since he was elected congressman in the lone district of Saranggani province.

“Right now, it’s not year clear. He’s afraid to fight me,” said Pacquiao, who recently received the “Fighter of the Decade” award from the prestigious Boxing

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Writers Association of America (BWAA).

After Pacquiao’s clinical 12-round whipping of Joshua Clottey last March 15 in Texas, Mayweather’s name cropped up as the next possible opponent of the Filipino icon.

But initial negotiations of what could be the richest bout in boxing history fizzled out after Mayweather insisted on an Olympic-style drug testing, which was rejected by Team Pacquiao.

Pacquiao, however, later agreed to drug test procedure provided it wouldn’t be done near fight day but Mayweather reportedly wanted drug testing up to the day of the fight.

The American’s handlers later purportedly demanded for a 60/40 purse split, something that Pacman’s camp wouldn’t agree.

“That is too much for Mayweather to ask. Besides, that’s unfair to Pacquiao because he’s the main draw being the current pound-for-pound king,” said Pacquiao’s confidant and top advisor Rex “Wakee” Salud.

But according to a blog posted on www.usanewsweek.com, the best solution for the megabout to happen is for both fighters to agree on a 50/50 split.

He doubts though if Mayweather will agree to such set-up.

When asked for her comment, Jinkee said her husband is likely to face next Mayweather because “there’s no viable opponent out there other than Floyd.”


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