Arum: We've signed the contract, waiting on Floyd.

[Ricky_]

http://www.examiner.com/article/bob-aru ... her-hasn-t




I just spoke with Top Rank CEO Bob Arum. He pulled no punches. Arum says that Manny Pacquiao and Top Rank have agreed to and signed off on all points concerning the big fight between the two prize fighting icons. Arum says that they are just waiting for Floyd's side to deliver Floyd. Arum is frustrated that there's still no sign of Floyd stepping up and signing the dotted line. Below is the Q&A between myself and Bob Arum.

BC – Bob thanks for talking to me. Before we talk about Mayweather /Pacquiao, talk about your upcoming shows in January and February.

BA – We are very active and working on more HBO dates putting our fighters to work. Were gonna keep busy, and we are obviously busy trying to put the Pacquiao Vs. Mayweather fight together.

BC – Share with the fans where the negotiations are at with the fight.

BA – As far as we are concerned, we've negotiated all of the points, and we are all in accord. Pacquiao signed off on everything, and we are ready to rumble. I can't say the same for the other guy, but that's not my job. The people representing the other guy have to deliver him, and that's what we are waiting for.

BC – Is there truth that a venue has been agreed on?

BA – Everything is agreed to. People need to understand that. everything is agreed to by my guy (Pacquiao) and his (Mayweather's) representatives. Manny has signed off, now we are just waiting for the other side to deliver Mayweather.

BC – What's the difference between this time around and other so called attempts to get this fight done?

BA – It's the same bullshit. His people negotiate, then they say there's no negotiations, then Mayweather never steps up to the plate. It just solidifies my feeling all along that Mayweather doesn't want to fight Pacquiao. He never did.

BC – So this time is no different than any other time?

BA – The only difference this time is because Leslie Moonves (CEO CBS) has been doing some stellar work trying to close this match. He's met with everybody, he's talked to everybody. There's no question in my mind that Showtime and CBS want this match to happen.

BC – So Many is good with everything?

BA – Manny is good, and Top Rank is good.

BC – So Floyd is holding up this whole thing?

BA – That's the way I see it.

BC – Is Top Rank good for the May 2nd date?

BA – They wanted May 2nd and we (Top Rank) agreed. I didn't want to throw any obstacles in the way of this fight, so we agreed. I think it's a silly date because there's no Mexican fighter involved on that date, but
Floyd wanted this for May 2nd, and Manny went along with it.

BC – Is Floyd trying to price himself out of the fight?

BA – Negotiations have been going on and as far as we are concerned they are complete.

BC – So Floyd just won't sign the damn contract?

BA – They can't produce Floyd to agree. It's the same thing that happened with Ross Greenberg a few years ago when we agreed on everything then they couldn't produce Floyd Mayweather. Same thing when we got past the drug testing, Pacquiao agreed, and Mayweather wouldn't. This is no different than any other time.

BC – I'm trying to get out of you, for the fans, what the hold up is.

BA – Brad, Mayweather knows more about the boxing end of this, not the business end of this, the boxing side. He's a student of boxing. The worst style that he can fight is Manny Pacquiao, who's left handed, who throws punches from all angles, and will match him in speed. That's not a good fight for Floyd Mayweather.

BC – It's a good payday though Bob. Floyd loves money and this would be an awful lot of money.

BA – I understand that it's a good payday and it's something that the public really wants, but when he (Floyd) looks over the terrain, he realizes that the worst opponent for him is Manny Pacquiao.

BC – How far can you guys let this go before you have to move on and look for someone else to fight?

BA – We are going to push this to the end. We're not going to let them off of the hook. We want this fight to happen. The public wants it. It's time to stop fu#@ing around. He needs to get some cajones. Even if its a difficult fight to accept for him, he needs to take it and do the best that he can.

BC – Thanks for the update. I'll be in touch.

BA – Thanks Brad.

[Ricky_]

I brought the story of Les Moonves involvement to this forum last year and it seems that story was on the money. Floyd's boss looks like he could be the one to end the 6 year duck?

[Rodian]

I brought the story of Les Moonves involvement to this forum last year and it seems that story was on the money. Floyd's boss looks like he could be the one to end the 6 year duck?

lol....these clowns cant blame Arum want Top Rank's Moretti came out and confirmed it. No where to run for the Duck Dynasty

expect the same tired old buffoons to defend Floyd's inevitable duck

[KBB]

I brought the story of Les Moonves involvement to this forum last year and it seems that story was on the money. Floyd's boss looks like he could be the one to end the 6 year duck?

Wow the sheer stupidity!! First of all, this is just what Arum has stated and we all know how Arum lies; "yesterday I was lying, today I'm telling the truth" is the Bob Arum mantra.

So if you want to go ahead and swallow that up whole then by all means you're just an idiot enough to believe the stories put out by notorious Floyd haters (such as yourself) like Scoop Malinowski and Skip Bayless.

Second the 6 year duck started when Manny refused to do the testing and started crying about how having blood drawn weakens him, he didn't sign the contract then (maybe even the same now).

So yeah, hopefully if he did sign the contract THIS TIME, it will be the end of the 6 year Duck for him.

http://sports.yahoo.com/news/boxing--fl ... fight.html

[Rodian]

I always that there was a reason for confidentiality clauses being being imposed during the negotiation process… and it’s an intelligent business decision to remain quite on contract negotiations, which is something we’ve consistently witnessed when Floyd Mayweather and Al Haymon have negotiated contests in the past.

I’m not entirely sure what Bob Arum is trying to achieve by burning bridges by his lack of professionalism?

I know for one thing for sure, when Bob refers to the "Ross Greenburg situation" a few years ago, this is what happened:

The so-called huge effort to get an agreement from the Arum’s side during the mythical negotiations, was little more than sending a few demands, which were delivered to middleman and HBO boxing boss Ross Greenburg for his relay to Mayweather shot-caller Al Haymon

Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions didn't meet, or speak, once. Pacquiao and Mayweather's teams didn't meet or speak once.

The entire fictional "negotiations" in 2010 were little more than Bob Arum trying to spin the media in order to promote the Pacquiao-Margarito fight!

Accusing others of PED use is very unprofessional. Offering some BS offer not in good faith over the phone is unprofessional.

Racism is very unprofessional.

[KBB]

"AGREED" doesn't mean he signed!!

Manny "AGREED" to do the testing 5 years later in the media but he never "SIGNED" a contract to it!

Manny "AGREED" to accept 40 million dollars but where is the "SIGNED" contract??

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2329 ... ign=boxing

All we have is word from the Top Rank camp that other news sources have picked up and reported without having seen the actual "SIGNED" contract.

I've seen this stuff from Top Rank/Bob Arum for years saying that they "AGREED" but I've never seen them with a "SIGNED" contract or it being corroborated by anyone outside of their camps, most news media are just taking the story from someone else and reporting it because it is "newsworthy" but still that doesn't mean it has been done on a contract "LEGALLY".

AGREEMENT doesn't equal SIGNED CONTRACT!!

[ReggieDiggs]

What the f#ck does this even mean?

Bob Arum: Everything is agreed to. People need to understand that. everything is agreed to by my guy (Pacquiao) and his (Mayweather's) representatives. Manny has signed off, now we are just waiting for the other side to deliver Mayweather.

How can Floyd's reps agree to a damn thing? I mean outside of yes we see this is what you agree to. And if Floyd's reps are in constant contact with Floyd during these "talks" wouldn't a rep agreement be as legit as a Floyd agreement since Floyd is feeding them his opinions & stances?

This is smelling more & more of bs on Arum's side. I mean f#ck it always smells of bs on Bob "Gotta Build a Stadium" Arum's side for objective fans.

And as Fergusg brings up why would you publicly talk about this while its still in the process of being handled? Bad form or bs form. One or the other.

[kaanrsln41]

I wonder if there is a rematch clause. Any result other than a comfortable Floyd win will demand a rematch.

[man]

i find it hard to believe that there is still someone
who believes it is not floyd who prevents this fight
from happening. people seem to go to all kinds of
weird theories as how a businessman like arum
would not want the best and most lucrative fight
of his career.

i can't help but think that those who think arum
is the obstacle simply have only very theoretical
ideas how someone runs a business.

[man]

I’m not entirely sure what Bob Arum is trying to achieve by burning bridges by his lack of professionalism?

didn't see that and those bridges simply do
not exist to begin with.

[MachoTime]

The way it looks. Both sides negotiated in good faith. A contract was made. Pacquiao agreed. Mayweather hasn't agreed yet. Probably thinking it over. So it's up to Mayweather to say yes or no.

[phillykid]

i find it hard to believe that there is still someone
who believes it is not floyd who prevents this fight
from happening.

agreed, and for me it's only on this forum that some people think this way.

everywhere else whether another site or in real life, everyone i meet whose into boxing knows it's floyd holding this fight up.

[man]

how many people do you know that have been active participants of the Mayweather-Pacquiao contract negotiations?

If Floyd Mayweather Jr. really is “holding things up”, how long has he had to consider his decision and what is the deadline for him to sign the contract?

I think I know what your “honest” response to those questions would be, but I’d prefer to see if you’re capable of showing some integrity.

i have an answer:

please.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Why do people believe Arum more than they do Floyd?

Don't some of you think that there could be a few good reasons why Floyd wants nothing to do with Arum?

Why do people still believe anything Arum says?

I don't get the thinking of some people. There are way too many men whose emotions destroy any shred of logic. Then they meet up with their boys and say the same thing about women. The fight hasn't happened and the blame goes as such ... 25% Floyd, 25% Manny, 25% Arum, and 25% the fans ... any other split seems to ignore all the evidence and shows how you lean in terms of bias.

Tomorrow we may find out that this isn't even the result of negotiations, and it's just an Arum tactic to annoy Floyd/Haymon so he can put on Manny VS TR Bum and get 100% of the pot.

Call me when there is something real to talk about ...

[ReggieDiggs]

Why do people believe Arum more than they do Floyd?

Arum is an old white guy. Floyd is a younger black guy. Obviously the old white guy would never lie & the younger black guy is pretty much lying anytime he's opening his mouth.

Bob has said so much wacky sh!t involving this fight & Floyd has said so little yet somehow Bob is the truth teller & the guy who barely speaks on the fight, you know like he does with virtually all his contract discussions, is the guy lying & holding things up. Its hilarious to some degree that people don't see thru this, but people underestimate Bob all the time & love hating on Floyd. If you don't think Bob is the smartest guy in any room he walks into you don't know sh!t about boxing or Bob Arum. And the way he's discussed this fight publicly is not the way a guy who is intelligent would talk about it unless he had some other agenda.

[FloydtheDuck]

So obvious who believes what

Fight is signed by one and not the other

Floyd needs to man up

I thought before JMM the fight was always 50/50, on who was the winner

I lean more towards Floyd seeing manny after that fight

But the biggest doubt comes from is Floyd really scared of manny, I believe it's in his head - a vision of him losing to manny

[MachoTime]

^They are relatively the same size. It's not like Pacquiao is knocking anyone out lately. What's there to be scared of really.

[KBB]

^They are relatively the same size. It's not like Pacquiao is knocking anyone out lately. What's there to be scared of really.

Exactly!!

[Idisagree]

Nobody knows what Pac has agreed to and signed. Arum may be saying that Pac signed a contract but how do you know what terms are in the contract. Pac could have signed a contract that calls for 60-40 in his favor. We have to wait and see and not jump to conclusions just because Arum said that Pac has signed a contract. Those are negotiating tactics to put pressure on Floyd. I don't trust anything that comes out Arum's mouth.

[IKSRTFO]

^They are relatively the same size. It's not like Pacquiao is knocking anyone out lately. What's there to be scared of really.

They don't fight the same, ask Tim Bradley

What does size have to do with it? Chris Byrd was about the size of prime Tyson.

[KBB]

Nobody knows what Pac has agreed to and signed. Arum may be saying that Pac signed a contract but how do you know what terms are in the contract. Pac could have signed a contract that calls for 60-40 in his favor. We have to wait and see and not jump to conclusions just because Arum said that Pac has signed a contract. Those are negotiating tactics to put pressure on Floyd. I don't trust anything that comes out Arum's mouth.

This is how ridiculous Manny's fans are, most of them just take the ball and run with it just because Arum, Roach, Koncz or Pacquiao said so.

[BAD INTENTIONS]

Why do people believe Arum more than they do Floyd?

Arum is an old white guy. Floyd is a younger black guy. Obviously the old white guy would never lie & the younger black guy is pretty much lying anytime he's opening his mouth.

Bob has said so much wacky sh!t involving this fight & Floyd has said so little yet somehow Bob is the truth teller & the guy who barely speaks on the fight, you know like he does with virtually all his contract discussions, is the guy lying & holding things up. Its hilarious to some degree that people don't see thru this, but people underestimate Bob all the time & love hating on Floyd. If you don't think Bob is the smartest guy in any room he walks into you don't know sh!t about boxing or Bob Arum. And the way he's discussed this fight publicly is not the way a guy who is intelligent would talk about it unless he had some other agenda.

I agree with everything else except for that part. Arum is not intelligent at all. He has a stable of fighters who people like so they accept Bob and his BS because he's part of the package. Arum can easily be made to look like a fool in any interview yet no one ever does. He probably has ties to crime or something, because I find it incredibly hard to believe that so few people go to town on such an easy target.

FOR INSTANCE, A LITTLE WHILE BACK WHEN THE FINANCIAL AGENCY WHO WAS HIRED TO LOOK AT MANNY'S FINANCES CAME OUT AND SAID ARUM AND KONCZ ARE ROBBING MANNY, NO ONE SAID SHIT. NO ONE CARED. THE STORY WENT AWAY IN A FEW DAYS. IT'S (CLOSE TO) A FACT THAT MANNY LIVES IN DEBT TO BOB, YET NO ONE EVER BRINGS IT UP. THEN MANNY QUICKLY SIGNS AN EXTENSION, AFTER SEEING COTTO MAKE HIS BIGGEST PAYDAY AWAY FROM ARUM, AND NO ONE BRINGS THESE THINGS UP.

So, I don't think it's intelligence at all. There seems to be a willing ignorance of Bob Arum's bullshit.

[KBB]

Why do people believe Arum more than they do Floyd?

Arum is an old white guy. Floyd is a younger black guy. Obviously the old white guy would never lie & the younger black guy is pretty much lying anytime he's opening his mouth.

Bob has said so much wacky sh!t involving this fight & Floyd has said so little yet somehow Bob is the truth teller & the guy who barely speaks on the fight, you know like he does with virtually all his contract discussions, is the guy lying & holding things up. Its hilarious to some degree that people don't see thru this, but people underestimate Bob all the time & love hating on Floyd. If you don't think Bob is the smartest guy in any room he walks into you don't know sh!t about boxing or Bob Arum. And the way he's discussed this fight publicly is not the way a guy who is intelligent would talk about it unless he had some other agenda.

I agree with everything else except for that part. Arum is not intelligent at all. He has a stable of fighters who people like so they accept Bob and his BS because he's part of the package. Arum can easily be made to look like a fool in any interview yet no one ever does. He probably has ties to crime or something, because I find it incredibly hard to believe that so few people go to town on such an easy target.

FOR INSTANCE, A LITTLE WHILE BACK WHEN THE FINANCIAL AGENCY WHO WAS HIRED TO LOOK AT MANNY'S FINANCES CAME OUT AND SAID ARUM AND KONCZ ARE ROBBING MANNY, NO ONE SAID poo. NO ONE CARED. THE STORY WENT AWAY IN A FEW DAYS. IT'S (CLOSE TO) A FACT THAT MANNY LIVES IN DEBT TO BOB, YET NO ONE EVER BRINGS IT UP. THEN MANNY QUICKLY SIGNS AN EXTENSION, AFTER SEEING COTTO MAKE HIS BIGGEST PAYDAY AWAY FROM ARUM, AND NO ONE BRINGS THESE THINGS UP.

So, I don't think it's intelligence at all. There seems to be a willing ignorance of Bob Arum's bullshit.

Then again you're just talking about Pacquiao fans and we know that the vast majority of them are not very intelligent in the first place so why should anyone expect them to understand or say something about it.

[Rodian]

cluckin and duckin till the very end, lets see what Floyd has in store for his fans in the next few days, dare i say, hours.

[Rodian]

Then again you're just talking about Pacquiao fans and we know that the vast majority of them are not very intelligent in the first place so why should anyone expect them to understand or say something about it.

I'm sure on average they all have a higher IQ than the average Mayweather fan. most of them are asian, after all.