Who's to Blame? A History of the Failed Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Negotiations

The superfight that never was.

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Complex Original

Image via Complex Original

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In just a few hours Floyd Mayweather, Jr. will face off in a highly-anticipated fight against Saul "Canelo" Alvarez for multiple light middleweight titles. This is one of the biggest superfights over the last few years as Canelo is without a doubt the best competition out there for Money May right now. However, is it as big as the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight would've been a year or more ago? Hell no.

Had the Mayweather vs. Pacquiao fight occured when both fighters were still in their prime or at least close to it, estimates had the fight garnering as much as $200 million. Beyond astronomical dollar figures, it would have been at the very least an opportunity for either fighter to solidify their legacy as the unquestionable best fighter of their generation. Most experts still say it's Mayweather and quickly point to his perfect 44-0 record but skeptics counter and say that without a win over Pacquiao in his prime, you can't put him in the class of all-time greats like Muhammad Ali, Sugar Ray Robinson, and the likes.

But who's to blame? Is it Floyd for turning down a 50-50 split? Pacman's refusal to agree to Olympic style blood testing? Well, we're going to attempt to get to the bottom of this in A History of the Failed Mayweather vs. Pacquiao Negotiations.

Industry Rule No. 4080

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In The Beginning There Was Hype

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What Up, Blood?

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All For Show?

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Gimme the Loot

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The Pacquiao Knockout

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Conclusion

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