Ethan Miller - Getty Images
When one of your biggest supporters calls you out on the 50/50 split comments, then you may want to reconsider your bargaining position. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Teddy Atlas has long used his gig on ESPN's Friday Night Fights to verbally shoot down Manny Pacquiao. Heck even Al Bernstein called him out on his baseless attacks when Atlas criticized Manny's choice of opponents. Of course in order to make his point, Teddy pointed to Floyd Mayweather as the bastion of difficult matchmaking. From his past actions, it is clear that Teddy is squarely in the Mayweather camp. Therefore, the news that came out today is slightly surprising. In an interview with Rick Reeno over at Boxing Scene, Atlas slammed Mayweather for demanding more than an even split of the pot.
"At the end of the day, if you want someone to believe, in earnest, that you want this fight then there are a lot of things that you can say that the other side hasn't done and you can point a finger at and make a case on, but this is not one of them. You can't say that you want the fight and then say that you refuse to give 50-50 to probably the biggest name in boxing right now. I don't think anybody can make a case, if they are being honest and they are really sober, on how they are not going to give 50-50 to Pacquiao. And you are talking about the guy who right now is the biggest engine in boxing. That's a losing argument. I don't see any way that he can win an argument, that he should get more than 50-50. To be honest with you, if you're Mayweather, I think he should be happy to get 50-50, because he's getting 50-50 in probably the biggest money fight in the history of the sport. That's doing good."
If one the biggest Mayweather supporter slams you in this fashion, then it is official that you lost the PR war. Everyone was on Mayweather's side after he called out Pacquiao on Twitter but with this stupid move he alienated even the biggest fans. I truly feel sorry for anyone who is expecting that this fight is going to happen in May or in November. For the November date, it will be another series of excuses/issues, the same as it has been since 2009. To cheer everyone/me up, I'm going to write at least two feel good stories tonight. We all deserve it after going through this nonsense.
0 recs | 8 comments
Stopped listening to Atlas a while ago on this subject so his recent position is no more or no less interesting than his former.
Other than that, I do like hearing him when he isn’t obsessed with doing his Clyde Frazier ‘watch me turn a phrase’ number.
He’s a smart and engaging guy when he sticks to his arena
pakinpower - January 23, 2012
don't know atlas personally (surprise surprise)
but always thought he had a tendency to be a drama queen at times. can’t knock the guy’s commentary and breakdown though, pretty solid stuff. definitely surprised at him supporting pacquiao, what with all the PED innuendo. i wanna see this fight as much as the next guy, but anything short of 50-50 is just plain wrong.
hanboxer - January 23, 2012
He is a drama queen. He’s a very intelligent boxing man and when he’s not obsessing over Manny Pacquiao, Wladimir Klitschko, or Freddie Roach, and not having his ass kissed over Alexander Povetkin beating Ruslan Chagaev for a paper belt (while otherwise crapping on title belts), he’s a very good commentator. But his soapbox isn’t sturdy. He partakes in the ills of boxing, then expects to be taken seriously when he decries them. Whatever.
Scott Christ - January 24, 2012
50-50 is the only way this fight ever happens. I don’t care what Pacquiao said about taking less, that’s just not happening. Whether it’s a cope out, a negotiating maneuver, or just ego from Floyd (who can never admit Pacquiao is a big star in his own right), he must realize that anything besides an even split aint happening.
Sammlung - January 24, 2012
honestly..
I hope both these dudes loe their next fight. There for they can be brought down to earth and either retire or fight each other. These fight is at least 3 yrs to late in actually happening. Both these dudes are past it. I hate that mayweather continues to hold this sport hostage. May he lose his Next fight and Pac Too!!
DiE_HARDFER - January 24, 2012 via mobile
Really? Maybe you can make a case for Manny being on the slide a little,
But Money? He might be a dick but he is a dick on top of the game
Sweet science - January 24, 2012
LOL
As soon as I heard Money say he isn’t going to fight off a 50-50 split of the purse, he lost all the momentum of who is ducking who… Pac-man has never been wishy-washy about fighting Floyd, but there are plenty of contradictions from Floyd in the past… Then Floyd gets the upperhand calling Pac out, in which Arum is the real jerk in this, but now Floyd doesn’t want to split even…LOL How he forgot about the fans that quickly… Floyd isn’t stupid, I am sure he knows that even if he split 50-50 he would be seeing the most money he’s ever made in one single fight… If u got cash like he says he does(and I am sure he does), and u want to put this Pac vs Floyd drama to bed for good, then take the split, make the most money u will ever make off one fight and win the fight… That simple… Any TRUE BOXER would put their money EGO aside and beat their opponents ass after all this bullsh*t back and forth. Tyson, Leonard, Hearns, Chavez, Ali, etc…
nyfinest314 - January 24, 2012
Don't know why you replied to my comment with that....
Sweet science - January 24, 2012
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