Floyd Mayweather Jr. allowed a deadline from Manny Pacquiao's promoter pass without saying anything.
A day later, Mayweather indicated that his stance wouldn't be changing anytime soon.
"I'm not interested in rushing to do anything," Mayweather told The Associated Press.
Appearing in Miami on Sunday as a coach at a charity basketball game hosted by Dwyane Wade and Alonzo Mourning, Mayweather happily fielded questions about the NBA. But when talk turned to boxing — and Pacquiao in particular — the fighter known as Money simply wouldn't respond.
Mayweather's camp did not respond to a deadline imposed by Pacquiao promoter Bob Arum early Saturday, which has put what could be the richest fight in boxing history in doubt. Mayweather and Pacquiao are clearly the two biggest stars in the sport but have not signed a deal despite months of negotiations.
"I'm not really thinking about boxing right now," Mayweather said. "I'm just relaxing. I fought about 60 days ago, so I'm just enjoying myself, enjoying life, enjoying my family and enjoying my vacation."
Mayweather has appeared at the event Mourning founded known as the Summer Groove in past years, plus has grabbed courtside seats at Heat games during previous trips to Miami. But there was a certain irony to his appearance Sunday: Mayweather was a coach on the bench that the Heat occupy, sitting in the seat that Miami coach Erik Spoelstra uses during games.
Spoelstra is of Filipino descent, and is a huge Pacquiao fan.
"I'm supporting all basketball players because I'm a fan of basketball," Mayweather said.
Pacquiao has reportedly agreed to an equitable split of the earnings from the megafight, along with extensive drug testing. The two sides nearly came to terms earlier this year, but the fight didn't happen then because Pacquiao was reticent about blood testing close to a fight.
Pacquiao ended up routing Joshua Clottey by decision before about 50,000 fans at Cowboys Stadium in March, while Mayweather dominated Shane Mosley over 12 rounds in May after surviving a big Mosley right hand in the second round.
Although he hasn't spoken directly to Mayweather, Arum said on Friday he believes the former pound-for-pound champion might be reluctant to fight this year because of the legal woes of his uncle and longtime trainer.
Roger Mayweather will go on trial in Las Vegas in August on assault charges stemming from an altercation with a female boxer last year.
If the fight with Mayweather doesn't happen, Pacquiao could fight recently crowned junior middleweight champion Miguel Cotto, whom he stopped last year, or former welterweight champion Antonio Margarito.
Margarito is not currently licensed to fight in the U.S. due to a suspension imposed after he was found to be wearing illegal hand wraps prior to his January 2009 defeat against Mosley.
Arum said that Pacquiao plans to fight Nov. 13 regardless of the opponent.
As for Mayweather, well, only he seems to know.
"Like I said, I'm just supporting my family and relaxing," Mayweather said. "That's what I'm doing right now."
Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/sports/story/2010/07/18/sp-mayweather-miami.html#ixzz0uKmboNs2
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