The mega-showdown between undefeated American fighter Floyd Mayweather Jr. and eight-time division champ Manny Pacquiao is not yet a done deal, contrary to the report by UK's newspaper the Telegraph.
Award-winning boxing writer Dan Rafael of ESPN downplayed the report of Telegraph Boxing writer Gareth Davis that both Mayweather and Pacquiao have already agreed to terms of their fight, as he cleared that the fight is 'nearing finish line one way or other.'
On Saturday, the Telegraph boxing writer reported a confidante inside Pacquiao's camp told him that the Filipino boxing champ has already accepted the terms of the $250M fight (including the 60-40 split on the fight purse) and is only waiting on Mayweather's signature and official announcement, which is rumored to take place in Sunday's NBA All-Star game in New York.
Gareth Davis of the Telegraph:
"The richest match-up in boxing history between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao has finally been agreed after years of haggling.
A source close to the Filipino boxer and congressman revealed to The Sunday Telegraph that Pacquiao completed his contractual agreements on Saturday and that Mayweather is set to sign and will announce the contest which is expected to be worth $250 million (£162 million) in the coming days."
As expected, Davis' story gained tremendous buzz online, drawing the attention of millions of boxing aficionados around the world waiting for five years to see the fight between two of the best boxers in the era finally slugging it out inside the ring.
However, Rafael stressed Pacquiao's signature or even his confirmation of the fight is irrelevant until Mayweather actually announced it either on his Twitter account or the Social Media application he's endorsing, Shots.
"Whether Manny signed or not Floyd has not per 2 sources directly involved. Floyd's the one we need to worry about not Manny,' source said," according to Rafael.
Whether Manny signed or not Floyd has not per 2 sources directly involved. 'Floyd's the one we need to worry about not Manny,' source said.
— Dan Rafael (@danrafaelespn) February 14, 2015
Pacquiao and Mayweather have been negotiating for the past four weeks, trying to seal the deal for what is expected to be the biggest boxing match in history.
Pacquiao, the holder of the WBO welterweight belt, has reportedly agreed to all terms demanded by Mayweather, the WBC and WBA welterweight champion. However, HBO and Showtime are still in stalemate with regards to their sharing in Pay-per-View revenue, which will easily eclipse the record set by Mayweather and Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.
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