The first words out of Floyd Mayweather Jr.’s mouth following his picking apart of Marcos Maidana were, “The saga continues … .”
The story of Mayweather’s unbeaten record goes on, as does a return to discussing a long-delayed date against Manny Pacquiao.
On Saturday night, Mayweather, now 47-0, whetted appetites for the fight that’s five years in the making. He mentioned Pacquiao during a post-fight interview in the ring after whipping Maidana on scores of 116-111, 115-112 and 116-111.
“I’m going to go back and talk to my team and assess the situation,” Mayweather said. “I’m not ducking and dodging no one.
“If the Manny Pacquiao fight makes sense, let’s make it happen. He has some business to take care of. Once he gets past that guy [Chris Algieri on Nov. 22], we’ll see what the future holds.”
Bob Arum, Pacquiao’s promoter, said, “The fact he’s talking about the Pacquiao fight is encouraging. We’ll take it from there. Things are moving, and we’ll work behind closed doors to try to find a deal.”
The shelf life of the super-fight that in past negotiations has fallen apart over personal grudges, purse splits and drug testing since 2009, is certainly reaching an expiration date.
Now, Mayweather, 37, has just two fights remaining on his pay-per-view contract with Showtime, and he has repeated that he’s leaning toward retirement when that deal ends.
Showtime Vice President Stephen Espinoza said Pacquiao is “absolutely” his first choice as Mayweather’s next opponent.
Mayweather’s win over Maidana in May drew 900,000 buys, fewer than hoped, and last week’s rematch may end up drawing fewer. Pacquiao’s buys have sagged, too, as the boxing public yearns for the fighters to take their ultimate test.
“I got where I got to by staying focused on Floyd Mayweather,” Mayweather said. “If it happens, it happens….
“I move when I want to and how I want to. I’m my own boss. I call my own shots.”
Being perceived as the one in charge is paramount to Mayweather.
Even with that juice to dictate his future, Mayweather didn’t pronounce in his Saturday forum that Pacquiao is at the top of his list.
Still, Espinoza sounded hopeful: “I hope I’m not being naive in thinking that where they are in their careers is a motivating factor. I think Floyd thinks of the end, and what’s missing.
“Is there going to be something missing?”
Arum is believed to have recently spoken to the heads of HBO, which broadcasts Pacquiao’s bouts, and with CBS Chief Executive Leslie Moonves (Showtime is a CBS Corp. subsidiary) about a joint broadcast.
Mayweather, nicknamed “Money,” may disdain Arum, his former promoter, but the millions of dollars available in a Pacquiao bout far exceed those for a fight against someone like former junior-welterweight champion Amir Khan.
“When Amir Khan was an amateur, I was champion. When he turned pro and got knocked out, I was champion. When he got knocked out again, I was champion,” Mayweather said. “And I’m still right here.”
So the public should buy that fight?
His unbeaten run has created a legacy that means everything to Mayweather. The fighter sported “TBE” — The Best Ever — apparel this camp and admitted he danced away from Maidana in the 12th round to guarantee his precious zero in the loss column.
Pacquiao said this month that he wants to fight Mayweather.
“I want to give the people what they want, the fight with Mayweather,” Pacquiao said. “For me, as a boxer, it’s a shame that he claims he’s pound-for-pound champion, that he’s undefeated … . He’s ducking another opponent, and it’s known all over the world who he should fight.”
Espinoza, formerly an attorney for Golden Boy Promotions, had been involved in negotiations to put a fight together in 2009.
“I’ve never doubted Floyd’s interest in doing it,” Espinoza said. “There’s another guy on the other side with an ego and a championship history as well.
“There’s a lot of pride here. I think a lot of people are going to need to swallow a little pride to get this thing done.”
Twitter: @latimespugmire
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