Floyd Mayweather Jr.
WBC/WBA welterweight champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. (L) of the U.S. takes a forearm to the throat from Marcos Maidana of Argentina during their title fight at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada September 13, 2014. Maidana was deducted a point for the infraction. Reuters

Filipino sports analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz has revealed what Floyd Mayweather Jr. told Manny Pacquiao when the fighters met face-to-face at a basketball game in the National Basketball Association (NBA) recently. According to Nathanielsz, Mayweather has given Pacquiao money-related advice on how the Filipino can improve his finances.

“Mayweather is trying to tell Pacquiao, ‘You straighten out your finances because you are being taken for a ride,’” Nathanielsz said during an interview with radio DZMM on Feb. 2. “Mayweather told Pacquiao ‘They are stealing from you because you are paying Bob Arum 27.5 percent for every fight.’”

Nathanielsz thought that Mayweather was only trying to show his consideration over Pacquiao, who is currently facing $75 million tax evasion case back in the Philippines. Nathanielsz also cited Mayweather’s impressive business acumen that brought the American enormous wealth. The analyst believes that Mayweather’s advice may have forced Pacquiao to look into things from a different perspective though he is unsure how the Filipino will really react to Mayweather’s enlightening words.

Nathanielsz further revealed that Mayweather has told Pacquiao and his adviser Michael Koncz to stop telling the boxing public about having a contract for the May 2 fight. He said that Mayweather doesn’t need to sign any physical contract.

Nathanielsz also stressed that Mayweather is not afraid to fight Pacquiao. He said that the Grand Rapids native boxer wants the fight to take place as much as the Filipino craves for it. The only major setback that prevents the fight from taking place is that the rival networks, Showtime and HBO, have not been able to finalise an agreement because huge amounts of money are at stake.

Mayweather’s lucrative six-fight contract deal with Showtime reportedly worth $200 million is a big factor why the fight hasn’t been settled. Nathanielsz said that Showtime wouldn’t easily give in and agree to a joint pay-per-view with HBO because they want to make sure that they would get as much revenue off Mayweather’s fights. Still, Nathanielsz remains optimistic that there is a chance that the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight can take place as long as the discussions are ongoing.

Pacquiao’s January deadline for the Mayweather fight already came but there is still no surprising development on the said super fight. The eight-division Filipino world champion has previously said that they would be looking into plan B, which means a different opponent, if they do not get the Mayweather fight. As for Mayweather, he seemed to have dampened the hopes of the boxing public when he posted an Instagram photo of him vacationing in Jamaica with the hashtag #FightNotMadeYet.

If a deal can’t be reached, both Mayweather and Pacquiao may have to move on and fight someone else. Mayweather targets to return to the ring on May 2. Pacquiao also aims to fight in the first half of 2015.

To reach the author of this article, email r.corpuz@IBTimes.com.au.

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