Pacquiao signs 2-year extension pact with Top Rank

According to a report from ESPN, Filipino boxing icon Manny Pacquiao stays with Top Rank. Pacquiao signs two year contract extension that will end on 31 December 2016.

“We are pleased that together with our partners at HBO we will continue presenting to the public fights of the great Manny Pacquiao through the end of 2016,” Arum said. “The partnership among Manny, Top Rank, MP Promotions and HBO has been a wonderful one for all parties and for the public and it’s great that it will continue for the years to come.“

So, those boxing fans that are still hoping for a Mayweather-Pacquiao showdown — that includes me — has another reason to stop hoping. But “hope” is the only thing that keeps me believing that this fight will happen. Pacquiao signing extension with Bob Arum took that “hope”.

In the past, negotiation between Mayweather and Pacquiao camps fall out because of drug testing and purse issues. Later on Mayweather added another condition before he will fight Pacquiao. And that: he will he will fight Pacquiao, only if he (Pacquiao) stays away from the promotional claws of Bob Arum.

The knockout loss of Pacquiao in the hands of his long-time rival, Mexican, Juan Manuel Marquez buried the possibility of the most debated match-up since half a decade ago.

However, Pacquiao’s dominating performances against Brandon Rios in Macau and rematch with Timothy Bradley in Las Vegas, and Mayweather’s struggle early in the fight against Marcos Maidana; the debate of Mayweather-Pacquiao fight comes back to life.

Boxing fans had Mayweather’s latest demand in mind, before fighting Pacquaio. They are hopeful as Pacquiao’s contract with Top Rank ends on December 2014. They expect a fight in early 2015. But we are still in May; Pacquiao buried that hope when he put ink on that paper.

But is it fair to say that Pacquiao is to blame why this fight won't happen by signing two years extension with Top Rank?

With or without Arum do you think Mayweather will fight Pacquiao?

I think even without Arum, Mayweather will have more demands for Pacquiao. Maybe he will bully more Pacquiao as he has no promotional backing.

Maybe Floyd will let OSADA draw one gallon of blood (for drug testing) from Pacquaio before he will let him climb the ring.

Maybe he will let Pacquiao used pillows instead of his favorite Cleto Reyes gloves.

Mayweather being in the position to call the shots and has more leverage during negotiations then what we expect from him. More demands.

But with both men has declined PPV buys based on their previous bouts. I think they need each other more than ever. I think the playing field is a little bit even on that term.