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Source: abs-cbnnews.com

-- 'Pacman's net earnings from Cotto bout around $7M'

Newly-crowned World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight champion Manny Pacquiao has finally proclaimed his desire to clash with former pound-for-pound king Floyd Mayweather, Jr.

Asked by Cher Calvin of KTLA-TV News in Los Angeles if he wants to fight Mayweather, Pacquiao replied: “For the record, ya.”

This was in response to Mayweather’s complaint that Pacquiao has not been vocal about whether he wants to face “Pretty Boy Floyd” or not.

“Manny Pacquiao is the fighter and every time someone asks him if he wants to fight me, he says it is up to his promoter, he's going to take a vacation, whatever the answer is,” Mayweather earlier told USA Today.

“Manny Pacquiao doesn't say anything directly about fighting me because he might just know it's not a fight he can win,” the undefeated American boxer (40-0, 25 knockouts) added.

The Filipino boxing superstar is coming off a technical knockout win over Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto in Round 12 of their “Firepower” bout on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada (Sunday in Manila).

He became the first boxer to win seven titles in seven different weight classes. He is also the first to win the World Boxing Council (WBC) diamond belt.

Mayweather, meantime, won his comeback fight against Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez via unanimous decision in September. He came out of retirement in May after announcing that he was leaving the sport in June 2008.

Blockbuster

Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) also told Calvin that he was open to the idea of holding his possible fight against Mayweather in a much bigger venue like the Giants or Yankees stadium.

Bets have already been placed as early as now for the fight that has not yet been finalized.

USA Today reported on November 16 that negotiations for the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout were set to take place “within the next 24 hours.”

Fans and critics have been saying that the fight between the world’s top two pound-for-pound kings will certainly be a blockbuster. Pacquiao is No. 1 while Mayweather is No. 2 in the Ring Magazine pound-for-pound rankings list.

It has been estimated that the Pacquiao-Mayweather clash could generate pay-per-view revenues of more than $120 million, added Calvin.

Fight purse

Meanwhile, estimates of Pacquiao’s earnings from his recent fight against Cotto have been varied.

Early reports stated that Pacquiao has a guaranteed fight purse of $13 million. Boxing analyst Ronnie Nathanielsz, however, said such reports are wrong.

“Manny will make $7 million from the fight purse alone,” Nathanielsz told ABS-CBN News, based on what he found out from the Nevada Athletic Commission.

The boxing analyst went on to say that Pacquiao is expected to gain more millions when he gets his share from the pay-per-view earnings.

“Bob Arum estimates the pay-per-view to make about $1.2- to $1.5-million buys. So when you get that, you multiply that with $50 per buy and take away the expenses and shares of HBO and Top Rank [Promotions], Manny may still get another $12 million from that,” added Nathanielsz.

Moreover, the estimated $18 million to $20 million that will go to Pacquiao will still be lessened as taxes as well as payments for trainers will be deducted. Nathanielsz thinks around $7 million or more than P300 million will go directly to Pacquiao.