Are negotiations for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather over before they even began?

Following pound for pound king Manny Pacquiao's scintillating 12th round TKO of Miguel Cotto this past Saturday night, the boxing world has shifted its attention to the prospects of the long-awaited clash between Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. In a recently televised statement on KTLA, Mayweather was quoted as saying, “Tell Manny Pacquiao to be his own man and stop letting everyone including his loud-mouthed trainer talk for him. If Manny Pacquiao wants to fight me, all he has to do is step up to the plate and say it himself."

Forgive me if I'm mistaking, but didn't that same tactic fail previously for both Antonio Margarito and Shane Mosley? In 2006, if memory serves this commentator correctly, Margarito challenged Mayweather to a fight during the De la hoya vs. Mayorga post-fight press conference in Las Vegas while Mayweather was doing an interview, but Money May dismissed the challenge, claiming that Margarito had to win a few big fights and establish a reputation for himself before such an event could become reality.

Exactly two months ago this very day, following Mayweather's come back win over Marquez, Mosley was in the ring with Mayweather during his post-fight interview with Max Kellerman and he also confronted Mayweather in front of thousands in attendance as well as 1.6 million PPV television viewers. Mayweather, in a defensive manner, hastily replied, "I don't come up here and interrupt you when you're doing your interview. Don't disrespect me. Respect me as a man."

Taking those hypocritical responses into consideration, how exactly will Pacquiao be any more successful in landing a fight with Money May, by categorically stating that he is eager to face Floyd Mayweather, whereas an identical approach failed for both Margarito and Mosley? Hypocrisy at its finest, ladies and gentlemen. As of Monday afternoon, there were reports in the Manilla Times that Pacquiao was fully aware of Mayweather's request that he express an interest in fighting him. Pacquiao called Mayweather's bluff, as he declared, "OK, let's do it."

Pacquiao once again articulated his interest in facing Mayweather, when interviewed by Cher Calvin of KTLA, as you can also see for yourself in the following video.

Top Rank promoter Bob Arum, who represents Pacquiao, has expressed his willingness to enter negotiations amidst his ongoing feud and soured relationship with the undefeated braggart. Arum admitted, “Maybe I prefer not to deal with him, but if your fighter wants a fight, you deal. Mayweather is not one of my favorite people, and I’m sure I’m not one of his. What difference does that make?” USA Today also reported on Monday that Mayweather would enter negotiations within 24 hours of Pacquiao's agreement to face him.

What exactly is the status of the negotiation process for Pacquiao vs. Mayweather at this time? According to Ben Thompson of Fighthype.com, Mayweather is already considering fights with Matthew Hatton (brother of Ricky), Dimitry Salita, and Carlos Quintana (whom Paul Williams knocked out in less than a round last year). Correct me if I'm wrong, but doesn't Salita have a fight coming up with WBA super lightweight champion Amir Khan? Isn't Quintana penciled in for a meeting with former IBF welterweight champion Joshua Clottey on December 5 in Atlantic City, on the under of Williams vs. Martinez?

When questioned by a member of the media about a possible meeting with Mosley at the post-fight press conference following the Marquez fight, Mayweather replied, "Mosley has a fight scheduled. He should be in training right now." That being the case, why is Mayweather wasting his time considering other opponents who also have fights scheduled on the horizon? More importantly why are those options not Manny Pacquiao, less than 24 hours after both parties agreed to come together in good faith to produce the showdown that the world is clamouring to see? One can only hope that this is a petty ploy on behalf of Mayweather to gain greater leverage at the bargaining table for the Pacquiao fight.

Earlier this year, you may recall a post I published on this website, questioning Mayweather's willingness to face Pacquiao when the time came for the two superstars to meet in a big showdown to determine boxing's best pound for pound competitor. During that period of time, many may have felt as though I was being too critical of the former pound for pound king. Noticing the sequence of events that have unfolded over the past four days, perhaps the question once again resurfaces. Is Floyd Mayweather, Jr going to avoid a fight with Manny Pacquiao?

Boxingchronicles.com will continue to follow this story as it develops.