The 36 year-old, who currently holds the most impressive C.V in the sport, has long been linked to a massive clash with his Filipino rival, although the American has argued further that advances were made and turned down by Pacquiao in the past.
“I offered Manny Pacquiao the fight before,” Mayweather told The Associated Press. “We didn’t see eye to eye on terms. Years later we come back and I try and make the fight happen again. I offer him $40 million. He said he wanted 50-50. So we didn’t make the fight happen.
“All of a sudden, he loses to Timothy Bradley, he loses to Marquez … he has tax problems now. So, two losses and tax problems later, now he all of a sudden want to say: ‘You know what? I’d do anything to make the fight happen,’ when he’s really saying: ‘Floyd, can you help me solve my tax problems, get me out of debt?'”
Mayweather was referring to an IRS enquiry currently hanging over Pacquiao, 35, which is being reported to be a debt of around $68million against the eight-weight champion. There is no debating that Pacquiao has been more interested in negotiating with Mayweather since the money problems came to light, but the vast majority of boxing fans are in agreement that the fight should be made next against all other options.
That is not a view shared by Mayweather though as the TMT owner is quite happy to push ahead with a prospective fight with Amir Khan on May 3 and hasn’t even addressed the possibility of a Pacquiao fight anytime in the future.
‘Money’ took care of the dangerous Mexican, Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez in his latest outing and given the PPV numbers that fight generated, Mayweather sees no reason to give Pacquiao the shot he now craves more than ever.
“As far as my last fight with, I can’t even remember the guy’s name. Canelo! They all the same to me,” Mayweather said. “So, as far as my fight with Canelo, they said Floyd Mayweather’s record could never be broken without the Pacquiao fight and as you have seen what we did, the fight done crazy numbers,” he added.
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