Cable giants to negotiate deal to have a joint broadcast of biggest fight in boxing history…
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With Manny Pacquiao agreeing to terms to fight Floyd Mayweather, cable giants Showtime and HBO will reportedly start negotiations over a joint broadcast.
According to the LA Times, discussions will begin on Wednesday after boxing officials with connections to both fighters told the paper that both boxers have expressed agreement over terms of the purse split.
While Top Rank revealed on Wednesday that Pacquiao had accepted the terms laid out to him from Mayweather regarding the split, venue and drug-testing plan, it still hasn’t been confirmed from Mayweather’s camp that they are pressing ahead with confirming the fight.
The officials spoke to the LA Times under the condition of anonymity because they are unauthorised to discuss the talks publicly, but it is worth noting that the broadcasters will start talks now as there is also likely to be problems there too.
Showtime and HBO last worked together to put on the heavyweight world title clash between Lennox Lewis and Mike Tyson back in 2002, and there is expected to be rivalry in terms of production controls, promotional shows and budgets.
Mayweather will likely be favoured in this bout given his pay-per-view figures but it is unclear at this stage as to whether or not he will now step up and agree to all the terms and make the fight.
Distrust is still said to be there between the two parties despite the progress in talks, but is widely acknowledged that May 2 seems to be the date set for the bout with trainer Freddie Roach gaining assurances that Miguel Cotto vs Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez will be moved to a later date in order to allow him to train both his fighters.
While it is promising to hear of progression in the deal to make the fight happen, there still appears to be plenty left to sort out as Mayweather and Pacquiao edge closer to finally meeting in the ring.
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