Showtime Sports Exec VP & GM Stephen Espinoza on Thursday refuted a statement from Top Rank Chair Bob Arum that a Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao agreement was close, saying "there are still a few significant issues on the network side and the fighters' side," according to Bob Velin of USA TODAY. Espinoza: "While we're optimistic, it's still premature to say the network deal is done." Velin notes Mayweather "took to social media Thursday to say that he was not holding up the deal." Arum said that the "major financial points of the fight have been agreed to, including a reported 60-40 split in the purse in Mayweather's favor." Based on the fight "doing a record" $200M or more "in revenue, Mayweather's pay could be at least" $120M. Arum said that Mayweather "will be the one to announce the fight if it is made." Mayweather "fights under contract to Showtime and Pacquiao to HBO" (USA TODAY, 2/6). Arum on Thursday said that HBO and Showtime "have agreed on how they would broadcast" the potential fight. The AP's Tim Dahlberg noted that leaves "only two remaining issues to be settled before the much anticipated May 2 fight can be signed." But Arum "declined to say what those two issues are, saying he didn't want to sabotage the negotiations" (AP, 2/5). In L.A., Lance Pugmire notes although "not finalized, Thursday’s talks closed with CBS/Showtime's James Brown designated as the fight host, with HBO’s Jim Lampley serving as play-by-play broadcaster, Showtime’s Al Bernstein as lead analyst, with HBO’s Max Kellerman and Showtime’s Jim Gray assigned to fighter interviews." Meanwhile, a source said that HBO and Showtime "have agreed that each will broadcast a fight replay" (L.A. TIMES, 2/6).
