Jeff Bottari - Getty Images
Floyd Mayweather Jr offered Manny Pacquiao a $40 million flat fee for a May 5 fight, which was rejected by Pacquiao, who wants his share of the revenue. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Getty Images)
A report from the Philippines (via BoxingScene.com) says that Floyd Mayweather Jr offered Manny Pacquiao a $40 million flat fee to fight on May 5, but none of the pay-per-view or other revenue the bout would generate. Pacquiao turned down the offer:
“He said he will guarantee me $40 million but I won’t have any share on the pay-per-view and other sources of revenue. How can he leave me out of the pay-per-view when I generate more than him in pay-per-view sales? I am still praying that Mayweather gets enlightened because I believe that I am not being unreasonable.”
On the surface, this turns into a bit of a maze to figure out if Pacquiao is or isn't being unreasonable, or if Mayweather is or isn't being foolish.
Yes, the $40 million would be, by far, a career high for Pacquiao. Richard Schaefer estimated that Floyd left his September 2011 bout with Victor Ortiz with around $40 million total, so $40 million wouldn't be a career high for Mayweather, but back to that in a moment.
For that fight, Mayweather was guaranteed a $25 million purse. That's per the Nevada State Athletic Commission pay sheets. Pacquiao's pay sheet purses were $6 million for the Mosley fight, $6 million for the Marquez fight. His guarantees were $20 million and $22 million. Pacquiao obviously left with more than $6 million for those fights, but I certainly can't say exactly what it was in either case, if the $20-22 million was really met, or if it was less, or how much less, or maybe even more.
But back to the other thing: Mayweather would be, you know, leaving with a lot MORE money than $40 million under this proposed deal, and Pacquiao's right: Why shouldn't he share in the pay-per-view revenue? Mayweather's not selling this by himself, and any belief that he is is false and, frankly, quite stupid.
So I guess on this one I lean toward Pacquiao. Sure, he once said he'd take less than a 50-50 split do to the fight, but he does deserve his share of at least the PPV revenue. I mean, come on. He shouldn't just do backflips because Floyd offered him $40 million.
I wish one of these guys would land the Cotto fight, the other would land whatever he's going to land, and we could just move on. Get in the ring and shut up.
0 recs | 55 comments
It would be even more awesome if one of them landed the Cotto fight and then got KTFO by Cotto… And then if the Boxing Gods were truly benevolent, Cotto would go on to the fight the other one of these ass-clowns and knock him the fuck out too ending the Pac / Mayweather dog and pony show bullshit forever.
Stevosaurus Rex - January 26, 2012
HA! That would end it.
tacklerford - January 26, 2012
I dont think so...
If they’d lose then they (Pac, Floyd and the promoters) would insult fans by offering it…
DXB Jerome - January 26, 2012
And then the Lion could lay down with the lamb and all the pretty unicorns could come out of hiding. Peace on Earth too.
Cotto ain’t knocking out either one of these guys. Sorry.
Craig111 - January 26, 2012
I don’t for a second believe Cotto could / would beat either of them… but it would be awesome because I’m sick to death of their prima donna bullshit. Both these guys needs their asses handed to them on a platter.
Stevosaurus Rex - January 26, 2012
crazier things have happened lol..but yeaaaaaa dont see that happening
Vicmatic1 - January 26, 2012
I understand that there’s a lot more money at stake here, but I find it “funny” (nauseating) these guys’ problems. FORTY MILLION IS NOT ENOUGH! (I know, it’s about power….)
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
Forty Million IS a lot of money!
This makes me think of Tiger’s ex-wife who went from being a glorified babysitter to someone who now tears down mansions to build a new one. Pac has gone from saying that he would take less cause he just wants the fight to turning down $40 Million. Come on Pac. You could buy a lot of produce with that kind of money.
Craig111 - January 26, 2012
There’s more than $40 million in this fight for him (perhaps a lot more if that’s what Mayweather is offering him), thus even more produce.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
Exactly, why should he limit himself?
cyke - January 26, 2012
Alright Scott, but let’s kill this image of Manny being this honest, kind, god-like person. Cause “at the end of the day”, he’s a lying, greedy bastard like Mayweather.
Craig111 - January 26, 2012
I don’t have that image of him and I’ve long since given up trying to get the Manny and Floyd lovers to see that both sides are at fault. It’s a hopeless cause.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
I’ll keep hammering away at this. I don’t think it’s about the money for either guy, it’s about the respect the money represents. Manny wants to be a 50-50 player and I think he’s earned that. Mayweather doesn’t think anyone’s earned 50-50 status in a fight against him.
I’ll give you a perfect example. The last argumentI had with my employers was technically about money. I wanted a raise, they were initially hesitant (times are tough, after all). But I didn’t desperately want the extra dollars so much as I wanted to know that they respected me and valued me enough to pay me what my market wage was. So, sure, I guess it was about the money. But I really wanted the respect.
AndrewDM - January 26, 2012
good analogy
BrianBrock - January 26, 2012
I understand all this and yes, in context I agree. But I also think that it’s ridiculous that it is a “problem” when you’re being offered “only” 40 million dollars. Again, I want to make clear that I understand that in context Mayweather is disrespecting Manny Pacquiao. But I mean, who is really “entitled” to 40 million dollars in this world? It’s just sick.
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
Yeah, and why do you think Pac would touch that?
Bob Arum would gobble much of that and he probably would and up with even less then 40 mil.
Lets say the ppv makes 1.8 mil buys at 65-70 $.
Thats 63 mil Pac supposedly gets 50/50.
Okay lets say Bob Arum takes 40 % of PAc’s share.
That means Pac gets 25 mil from the ppv.
And add at most 7 mil as guaranteed purse.
32$ vs 40 mil.
When Pac carries a PPV they get around a 1.3 mil ppv buys at most and 100% of the revenues is kept within TR and yet Pac gets less then 30 mil all together.
Now if you split the it 50/50 with GB it would equal as them getting 900k of the ppv buys.
If Pac gets his usual shar then he won’t see anything close to 40 mil
Mohammedini Hussein - January 29, 2012
vanessa bryant is gettin 75 million..shes owning pac anf floyd right now..
Vicmatic1 - January 26, 2012
Is that it?
Is this what the hold up was about? Looks like this is more money than the first soap opera (blood test series). That is a lot of money he turned down. Bad move for Floyd, now Cotto sees how much money is on the table for May 5th. What are his options now if Cotto fights Pacquiao?
honorablecbm - January 26, 2012 via iPhone app
Canelo Alvarez
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
I don’t know if this is a viable option, but if Floyd is desperate for opponents I’d be willing to start negotiations at $40 million.
The welterweight limit may be an issue though
whypunchrabbits? - January 26, 2012
Hate to undercut you
but I would fight him for a MIL. LOL
Craig111 - January 26, 2012
ok you can have Floyd for a million and i’ll take on Manny for a lifetimes supply of broccoli.
whypunchrabbits? - January 26, 2012
OF COURSE Pacquiao deserves more than $40 million and no upside for a fight like this. You can quibble about exactly who is bringing more fans to the table, but I don’t think it’s more than probably 60-40 in either direction and Mayweather would probably walk away with 75% of the money generated under a deal like that.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. I don’t think this is about the money, per se. Neither guy needs an extra $10 million. What the money REPRESENTS, though, is important and the money represents respect. Pacquiao feels like he’s earned enough respect to be a 50-50 player in a megafight like this. Mayweather feels differently, and doesn’t feel like anyone’s earned enough respect to get to parity with him on a fight.
AndrewDM - January 26, 2012
Maybe so Adrew but why did Pac make those statements of fighting for less?
More than once.
Craig111 - January 26, 2012
they both said a lot of stuff
BrianBrock - January 26, 2012
I couldn’t tell you. My guess is he got caught up in his “Fight For the Fans” mentality and made a statement he didn’t really think through. Or maybe it was just PR maneuvering. Or maybe he really meant it at the time, but is now insisting on a 50-50 deal because it’ll kill a fight he doesn’t really want.
AndrewDM - January 26, 2012
He loves to be loved
He thought this would make him sound like a really humble warrior. His fans eat this up.
Craig111 - January 26, 2012
just as
Floyd’s fans equally ‘eat up’ whatever he says…lets go round and round on this and make ourselves dizzy
BrianBrock - January 26, 2012
I'm not dizzy Brian
I know Floyd is full of it and I’m sure most of his fans do. I cringe sometimes when he’s doing an interview cause I know something crazy is coming out. But everybody knows that about Floyd. This particular discussion was about why Pacman say what he said. No need for the tit for tat.
Craig111 - January 26, 2012
Well, if most of Floyd’s fans know he’s full of it, I’m afraid thats honestly not the impression I get from a while on here. His fans eat up what he says just as much as Pac’s fans do. When you said what you did, it was like you’re outside of all that. Maybe you are, but thats not the impression I got. Anyway, its fine, I’m sure they’ll never fight and we’ll have at least 50 more of these threads before it finally all dies out ;)
BrianBrock - January 26, 2012
yeah I think thats spot on
BrianBrock - January 26, 2012
This sounds like a place where both sides should lock themselves in a room and negotiate. Not spill stuff to the media and try to make other fights.
Craig111 - January 26, 2012
These guys should do $40 million a piece, and winner takes remainder
Wasn’t it Freddie Roach that said a couple of months ago: “We’ll do a winner takes all with Mayweather”.
Lets see if he really means it.
Zfan - January 26, 2012
well
I didn’t hear Floyd go ‘Yeah, lets do that right now’ when he said that. I didn’t hear any ‘lets see if he really means it’ and him jumping all over that offer. Yes, it was almost certainly b-s by Roach, but Floyd would be equally uninterested in that. Makes no business sense anyway
BrianBrock - January 26, 2012
There’s no almost about it. It’s was 1000% bullshit.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
So when has it been okay to talk out the side of your mouth
Zfan - January 26, 2012
He doesn’t.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
Pacquiao is entitled to more than 40 million.
First it was blood testing. Now its money. Floyd’s “greedy” beam doesn’t seem to be weakening. Whats next in this ongoing saga of Bob/Pac/ & Floyd?
Personally, I think Manny got caught up in PR hype by saying he would take less. Given his financial troubles, it makes sense that he wants to max out on this fight. Hell, Roach went on record saying Manny’s “broke.” This was before JMM fight. And further solidified when it was reported that Manny took an advance from Top Rank prior to that fight. I think VQ brought light to this when they were hired by Manny.
isiah crispin - January 26, 2012
My thoughts
The idea that no one is “entitled” to $40million (or more) – Of course they are. They’re the reason this fight is worth any money, if it doesn’t go to one or the other or both it goes to the promoters. The fighters are absolutely entitled to every damn cent they can get.
“It’s not about the money, it’s about respect” – Maybe a little. But it’s also really, really about the money. I get that it’s hard for an average sports fan to look at someone saying $40 million isn’t enough and think they could possibly want more money…but to pretend that even just $10,000,000 more isn’t a big deal because $40,000,000 is already a lot of money is crazy.
Look, the deals Floyd is throwing out show that he’s not serious about this fight happening. You can’t refuse a 50/50 purse split, and then add in that you’re not willing to share the PPV and other revenue at all. That doesn’t mean that Pacquiao and Arum are serious about making it happen either. But the idea of a shitty split for Manny AND no PPV cut?
Finally, let’s not pretend that Manny hasn’t been about the money before. This is a guy who almost killed his own fight with Hatton because he wasn’t willing to go 50/50 and Arum had to freak out and beg him to do the even split.
Brent Brookhouse - January 26, 2012
I don’t care what you do or who you are, nobody is entitled to 40 million dollars. For what? For playing a sport? Get real man. Yes, I know in business your value is as a commodity and if you’re a hot commodity and you’re worth whatever you are then fine. But “entitled” to 40 million dollars? Hell no.
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
I dont think its entitlement
I think it’s what the market is willing to pay. I dont think Prince Fielder is worth 214million dollars. But the market says he is.
Zfan - January 26, 2012
so how much is money entitled to
cause if Pac took that offer floyd would Brit entitled to close 100 mill
Elstriko - January 26, 2012 via Android app
mobile fail
be entitled
Elstriko - January 26, 2012 via Android app
How do you define "entitled?"
That is the question here. It is my opinion that it is something that is earned.
We all work .Therefore we are entitled to our share of revenue. Those wall street executives were not “entitled” to bonuses that came from the tax payers via the bailout money.
isiah crispin - January 26, 2012
just
inso far as ppl saying its bs that Pac thanks he is entitle to more then 40 mill. cause thats gonna mean may may is going to 100 mill maybe more
Elstriko - January 26, 2012 via Android app
Let’s say they sell the PPV for $100 (they will) and lets say it does really great (it will) but doesn’t quite beat out Floyd/Oscar (it might not because of the price of the PPV). Let’s say it sells 2 million buys (a very realistic number). That’s $200,000,000 just in PPV revenue. The providers will probably take roughly 50% of that. So we’ll settle in at roughly $100,000,000 in PPV revenue alone. Probably another $20,000,000 (or more) at the gate. Plus the bid by HBO to get the fight on their PPV, plus all the sponsorship money..etc.
Forgive me for thinking that the two fighters who are involved are the ones entitled to the majority of that money.
Brent Brookhouse - January 26, 2012
I cut myself off early. I actually wanted to say: even if it only does 1 million buys there’s still no reason that they aren’t entitled to be the ones reaping the rewards
Brent Brookhouse - January 26, 2012
that's my thought zachary
I thank it sells about 2mill @100$
I thought the providers some times take less on these big fights. I was assuming 40 %. those guys should be philty Rich records after this
Elstriko - January 26, 2012 via Android app
Actually, I figure any human being who can get it without stealing it in any arena gets their $40 million In the lottery of life, everyone gets a free shot at as much of a win as they can get, is my way of looking at it. Not for me to say who’s entitled fo to it.
BoxAnne - January 27, 2012
Who said "no one?"
If you are refering to my comment, then you misread my post. I clearly said Pacquiao deserves more than 40 million. The implication here is that if Floyd was serious about this fight he would not have pitched this figure. Given the amount of money that this fight would generate, its an awful deal for Manny to accept.
isiah crispin - January 26, 2012
I said it. And I maintain it. I understand Zfan’s point above: it depends on the market. But my finer point is that this discussion is problematic in a general sense where these two are arguing whether or not 40 million is “fair” for a SPORT. This is a wider discussion and I’m pretty sure we don’t want to get into it here… but I just find it problematic.
Apprentice - January 26, 2012
Floyd has been using Pacquiao for promotion since 2009
He announced his comeback when Pac fougtht Hatton
He “negotiated” with Pacquiao to promote Mayweather-Mosley in 2010
He said “Pacquiao youre next!” to promote Mayweather-Ortiz in 2011
He tricked the public into thinking he was serious about fighting Pacquiao in May 2012 when he knew Manny would never accept his bogus offer.
Dont get me wrong, i’ve got my problems with Arum, but Floyd is a master of promotion. He has been using Pacquiao for 3 years now because he cant sell a fight on what he does in the ring alone.
dasilversurfer - January 26, 2012
Really? LOL
So people buy Mayweather fights ($60) to see him talk about Pacman after the fight?
Craig111 - January 26, 2012
see
that above from dasilversurfer is why I shouldn’t bother lol. On both sides you hear such apparently blinkered stuff you can’t help reply sometimes. Both Sides.
BrianBrock - January 26, 2012
He was selling fights when Manny Pacquiao was fighting at 130.
Scott Christ - January 26, 2012
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