"Fighter of the Decade" Manny Pacquiao's first trainer Rick Stahaley who steered him to his first world title when the
Filipino southpaw scored a spectacular 8th round knockout over Thai hero Chatchai Sasakul to win the World Boxing
Council flyweight title in December 1998, believes the much talked about Pacquiao-Mayweather megabuck fight will
never happen.
In an interview with the Manila Standard/Viva Sports, Stahaley who visited the Mayweather Gym in Las Vegas and sized
things up, said that while Floyd's father/trainer, Floyd Mayweather Sr "thinks his son may have the edge over Pacquiao and can beat him" Floyd isn't that certain.
He said Mayweather's Showtime feature interview in Texas was aimed at promoting his fight card and "used Manny's name."
Stahaley feels Maywearther thinks he has a 60-40 chance of beating Pacquiao but that's too close especially since "Floyd is enamored with going out undefeated."
The American trainer noted that "if (Marcos) Maidana can hit Floyd, Manny comes with more speed, has power and throws
straight punches" that could cause problems for Mayweather.
Stahaley noted that Mayweather's demands that he calls the shot, wants the fight on Showtime pay-per-view, asks Pacquiao
not to expect too much in terms of a purse while he gets the lion's share "all tell you that Mayweather is not serious. I don't think they'll ever fight."
He said Pacquiao "will take that fight. He'll fight anybody, that's why the fans love him."
Stahaley indicated that the only way the fight has a chance to happen is if Showtime and HBO Sports "demand it and force
Mayweather to fight Pacquiao" in the face of a major downswing in pay per view numbers of both fighters from which both networks suffer.
Meantime, another roadblock planted by Mayweather was his insistence on a May 2 date which is a Mexican holiday,
Cinco De Mayo" and a date which Oscar De La Hoya has set for a Saul "Canelo" Alvarez fight with Miguel Cotto.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum emphasized that Mayweather, Pacquiao or Cotto are not Mexicans and "the only Mexican
in the group is Canelo Alvarez, who is a big attraction among the Mexican people. And to poach on that date which is a Mexican holiday, by non-Mexicans, shows a terrible disrespect for the Mexican people, both those living in Mexico and those living in the United States. And anybody who does the poaching ought to be ashamed of themselves. That goes for hotels and that goes for fighters and that goes for any of us.?
Arum told us earlier that Les Moonves, the president of CBS was talking to the Mayweather people and that executives
from Showtime and HBO have reportedly discussed a joint venture similar to the agreement when heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis scored an 8th round stoppage of Mike Tyson in June 2002.
Key aides are reportedly working for Mayweather and Pacquiao, with CBS Corporation Chief Executive Leslie Moonves bringing
the two sides together.
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