Floyd Mayweather Jr. Says No Signed Deal To Fight Pacquiao During NBA All-Star Game

Some boxing hopefuls were tuning into the NBA All-Star game in hopes of seeing boxing’s pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather Jr. finally making the announcement that he will fight Filipino slugger Manny Pacquiao. Instead, the American fighter slammed the reports that he has agreed to the reported $250 million mega-bout and bluntly said that no contract has been inked yet.

“That’s not true, I haven’t signed, he hasn’t signed yet. That is all speculation.“ Mayweather told the sideline reporter during the third quarter of the NBA All-Star game.

Mayweather has been a frequent audience in NBA games and even figured in the much talked about meeting with Pacquiao during a regular season match between the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks in Miami Florida. Pacquiao was on hand with his wife to watch the game after their flight back to the Philippines. Mayweather capitalized on the situation to meet face to face with the eight-division world champion and the two boxers had a private meeting in a hotel room in Miami.

Fast forward to a few weeks later, no deal has been put in place with Mayweather yet again quashing all talks that both sides have agreed to the $250 million deal. A recent report from Gareth Davies of The Telegraph outlined that both sides are in the final stages of the lucrative contract and that it is all up to Mayweather. Many speculated that it would happen during the Super Bowl in Arizona only to be left disappointed. The NBA All-Star game at New York yielded the same result as Mayweather labelled all the reports as pure speculation.

For his part, Pacquiao has already returned to the Philippines after a brief judging stint in the Miss Universe pageant. The lawmaker said that he has begun training for his next fight at his hometown in General Santos City and said that it is Mayweather who will be announcing the completion of the deal. The two fighters have been trying to negotiate a mega-fight that will be the richest in boxing’s history.

The mega fight has been talked about for 5 years running with fight purse, drug testing procedure and promotions as the main stumbling blocks for the bout. This early, sports books have already opened up a betting line for the fight with Mayweather favoured at -295 in the fight which is supposed to happen May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las vegas, Nevada.

For concerns on this story, contact the author at v.hidalgo@ibtimes.com.au.