Things heating up on the Pacquiao-Mayweather front

Never have the headlines about the never-ending quest for a bout between Filipino Manny Pacquiao and American Floyd Mayweather Jr. been so confusing. Do a Google News search right now and here are the top 5 headlines that come up: 1) Boxer Pacquiao calls Mayweather’s Bluff, 2) Pacquiao Rules out Mayweather Clash, 3) Pacquiao keen on showdown, 4) Pacquiao Mayweather fight unlikely?, and 5) Pacquiao camp: May 5 Mayweather fight “foolish”.

So what’s really going on?

First, Floyd Mayweather go the juices churning all around by sending Manny a “Step up Punk” tweet that said: “Manny Pacquiao I’m calling you out let’s fight May 5th and give the world what they want to see.”

Then Michael Koncz, Pacquiao’s controversial “financial advisor” surfaced with a line to the effect that a May 5 fight with Mayweather makes no sense, something that Bob Arum subsequently seconded — both citing the fact that an additionl $30m in gate receipts could be obtained by taking the time necessary to build a 40,000 seat temporary stadium in Las Vegas, rather than fight on May 5 at the $16,000 seat MGM Grand.

It seems this “we won’t fight him on May 5″ statement got contorted into “a fight is unlikely”, but that doesnt’ seem to be what Team Pacquiao is actually saying.

Bob Arum is quoted as saying that pushing the fight to the end of May or June 9 would allow time for the temporary venue to be built — althouugh one has to wonder about the June 9 suggestion because Mayweather is scheduled to report to Las Vegas county detention on June 1. (Arum said he’d pay the legal fees to get an additional postponement ….but it’s hard to imagine that one week could make that much difference in whether the venue can be created, so you have to wonder by Arum is floating the June 9 date.

Meanwhile, Pacquiao himself was quoted as saying he’s ready to fight; he’s willing to go 50-50, and that on hsi side, Bob Arum has guaranteed Manny’s share of the pure. Mayweather, according to Pacquiao, is looking for a promoter to guarantee his side of the purse.

Where does this leave us?

Arguably, closer than we have been until now. The fight is beginning to look like it could actually happen.

Stay tuned.