Floyd Mayweather took another swipe at Manny Pacquiao in his recent visit to South Africa, dashing the hopes of fight fans who are eagerly anticipating the potential record-breaking showdown.
Mayweather revealed that he previously offered Pacquiao $40 million just to make the fight happen, but the Filipino boxing champion turned down the offer and insisted for a 50-50 split instead.
"I offered Manny Pacquiao the fight before," Mayweather said in a BoxingScene interview. "We didn't see eye to eye on terms. Years later we come back and I try and make the fight happen again. I offer him $40 million. He said he wanted 50-50. So we didn't make the fight happen."
Mayweather then lamented that now that Pacquiao suffered two-straight defeats before breaking his drought with a win against Brandon Rios, the former pound-for-pound king is suddenly showing interest in making the super fight happen soon.
Pacquiao suffered a controversial loss to Timothy Bradley in their WBO welterweight showdown in June 2012, which was followed by a devastating defeat Juan Manuel Marquez. The Mexican warrior knocked Pacquiao out cold in the sixth round of their fourth showdown in December 2012.
Mayweather also added that the former eight-division champion wants to have a shot against him, knowing that he'll get a big paycheck that will help him get out his tax troubles.
Recent reports suggested that Pacquiao is facing tax woes with the IRS along with the tax commission in the Philippines. Pacquiao's assets were reportedly held by the Philippine tax commission due to an alleged tax-evasion case.
"All of a sudden, he loses to Timothy Bradley, he loses to Marquez ... he has tax problems now. So, two losses and tax problems later, now he all of a sudden wants to say: 'You know what? I'd do anything to make the fight happen,' when he's really saying: 'Floyd, can you help me solve my tax problems, get me out of debt?'" Mayweather said.
As for his next fight, the 36-year-old American confirmed that he is leaning towards facing either Amir Khan or Marcos Maidana in his next fight on May 3rd in Las Vegas.
The former British champion Khan has the inside track for Mayweather's next fight since Maidana, the newly-crowned WBA welterweight champion, will reportedly have a rematch with Adrien Broner in April.
