Mayweather, Pacquiao have 'productive' talks at hotel

Whether their first-ever meeting at halftime of an NBA game Tuesday night in Miami and again afterwards at a hotel was an amazing coincidence or an elaborate set-up, it's a fact that Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are seriously discussing the most long-awaited and likely the most lucrative fight of all time.

And it sounds as though some of the remaining sticking points for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao on May 2 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas have been worked out and the fight of the 21st century, which has been teasing boxing fans for six years or more, is closer to reality than ever.

Pacquiao's manager, Michael Koncz, was present at both meetings between the world's top two pound-for-pound fighters and told USA TODAY Sports Wednesday evening that the meeting in Pacquiao's suite at the hotel, which lasted for an hour to an hour and a half and was initiated by Mayweather, was "a pleasant, productive discussion."

The initial meeting was first reported by the Los Angeles Times.

Koncz said Mayweather, 37, voiced some concerns during the hotel meeting over details of the broadcast of the fight. It will be a joint pay-per-view telecast by premium networks HBO and Showtime, much like the 2002 heavyweight title fight between Mike Tyson and Lennox Lewis.

"Manny and I both told Floyd we would resolve the broadcasting issues this morning," Koncz said, "and we did. I confirmed that through (Richard) Plepler (HBO chief executive) and Les Moonves (CBS/Showtime chairman)."

One of the issues Koncz said was resolved was regarding the broadcast teams. He indicated that HBO's longtime play-by-play announcer Jim Lampley and analyst Max Kellerman, and Showtime's top two, Mauro Ranallo and analyst Al Bernstein, would be involved in calling the fight.

Koncz said Mayweather was alone at the hotel, except for his bodyguards, but that during the discussion he talked by phone to his manager, Al Haymon, and Showtime Sports President Stephen Espinoza.

"I think Floyd is sincere in making the fight, as of right now. Whether that changes tomorrow, I don't know," Koncz said. "But if Floyd wants to fight and Manny wants to fight, who can stop the fight?

"Nobody."

Asked if he thought the fight was going to actually become a reality after all the false hopes through the years, Koncz said, "Certainly, Manny and Floyd are both pushing in that direction."

HBO vice president of pay-per-view, Mark Taffet, reached by phone Wednesday, would not comment on the negotiations.

Pacquiao, who had judged the Miss Universe pageant in Miami Sunday night, and attended the Heat game only because his flight on Monday was canceled, was headed first to Los Angeles, then next Tuesday to Washington, D.C. for two days to attend the National Prayer Breakfast, Koncz said.