By James Slater: If what Manny Pacquiao adviser Michael Koncz has said is true, Floyd Mayweather Junior cannot be in any real financial trouble after all. Stung this week with a back taxes bill of over $3 million, it was suggested by a good many people that the 34-year-old legally troubled boxing superstar would likely feel the need to box again pretty soon (assuming his court case of April 28th went well of course).
But now, according to Koncz, in speaking with ABS CBN news.com, the man known as “Money” has snubbed a whole lot of money. Koncz claims Mayweather Junior was recently offered the staggering amount of $50 million to fight Pound-for-Pound king Manny Pacquiao, but declined the offer.
“A country that I won’t name offered us $100 million to bring the Mayweather fight there,” Koncz stated. “So we, in turn, offered $50 million to Mayweather as a guarantee. If the Pay Per View comes in higher, Manny and Mayweather would make more.
“He refused the $50 million. It means he won’t fight Manny at this point in his career. Very simple.”
As fans know, Top Rank promoter Bob Arum recently came out and claimed Mayweather asked for $100 million, for himself, to get it on with Pac-Man. Obviously, that amount was unrealistic – but half that amount is a hell of a pile of cash anyway. Yet Floyd has allegedly turned such a number down flat. At least for now.
If Mayweather never had those troubling legal issues hanging over him (and it must not be forgotten how he faces a serious amount of time in prison if found guilty at the end of the month), it would be almost impossible to believe he would turn down such an astronomical amount of money – to fight anyone, let alone Pac-Man. But is Floyd’s head right at this time? Is he even thinking about boxing?
Let’s see if, after he’s acquitted on April 28th (assuming he is), this reported $50 million offer is still on the table. Would a Floyd Mayweather who has peace of mind turn down such an offer?
The clock is ticking, though – not only on the would be super-fight that is Pacquiao Vs. Mayweather, but on Floyd’s boxing career in general. It’s been almost a full year since he last fought. Some fans are suggesting Mayweather be removed from the lofty position he enjoys in the world rankings due to his inactivity.
Is “Money” Mayweather still deserving of a place near the top of the Pound-for-Pound rankings?