It was the Fall 2009 and I was working late at my job. At the time I was working the help desk for a cable company call center. It was slow that night when I got the word that Mayweather and Pacquiao had agreed to fight. I had just covered my first boxing match as credentialed media on May 2nd ironically of that year when we all thought Pacquiao had murdered Ricky Hatton in the ring.
But, this was the fight that everyone wanted. At the time there was a real discussion on who was the best pound for pound fighter in the world. They were both at their peak. Pacquiao was destroying people and Mayweather was barely getting touched while systematically beating down opponents.
Back in 2009, money was SUPER TIGHT, so the way I would book my flights and hotels for Vegas was through something called Southwest Vacations. Basically you got a discount if you booked it all together as opposed to paying for them separately. So I looked on Southwest Vacations and I saw a great deal, $900 for flight and hotel at the MGM for the weekend. You couldn’t beat that, so I got on the phone at my desk and called to make my reservation (because in 2009 people actually still called to do stuff like that).
I got this lovely young lady on the phone and we ended up talking about a whole bunch of stuff including the fight for about 30 minutes. I wish I remembered her name, but I will always remember her for one specific reason. Right at the end of the call she asked me if I wanted insurance on the package to make it fully refundable. Remember this was six years ago and I had no reason to believe Mayweather vs. Pacquiao wouldn’t happen so I said no, because it was an extra $99 and I didn’t have that.
The young lady said to me and I quote.
“I am going to waive the $99 insurance fee for you, because sweetie you just never know what might happen, so it is best you protect yourself.”
You know what happens next. Pacquiao balks at the drug testing and the fight is called off. I got my money back (in 21 business days smh) and just assumed eventually they would fight, but it took six long years to finally get it done.
You could say that the original Mayweather-Pacquiao negotiations taught me a valuable journalist lesson. Nothing is done until it is actually done.
Throughout the years since then BSO & I have grown and gotten older, but one thing hadn’t changed. People have asked me throughout the years when would Mayweather vs. Pacquiao get done or why hasn’t it gotten done. I have written many articles on the situation, more than I wanted to. Drug testing, Arum vs. Mayweather, Haymon vs. Arum, Top Rank vs. Golden Boy, HBO vs. Showtime, Roach vs. Mayweather Sr, Mayweather vs. his Ego and etc etc. I have been on conference calls and at press conferences where both Mayweather & Pacquiao have danced around the issue. It has been an exhausting six years to be honest with you and anyone who has covered boxing will tell you the same thing. I have been on social media about the same length of time people have wanted this fight to happened and I have routinely had to shoot rumors down or just flat out say the fight was doomed to never be.
In those six years, I’d like to think I have built up a reputation of being trustworthy. I rarely say things if I am not sure about them and even if I am sure I try to show varying sides. The original TMZ report that came out weeks ago was accurate, most of the points were done, just needed Mayweather to give his approval.
I wasn’t sure that was going to happen until I was at NBA All-Star Weekend in NYC. When someone that shall remain nameless but was as solid of a source there could be simply said “It’s Done”. That same individual then text me (along with two other people close to the situation) yesterday to say the announcement was coming.
Then I remember that lovely lady from Southwest Vacations saying “you never know what might happen”, so like the rest of you I just waited. I wasn’t going to fall for the banana in the tailpipe like I did in 2009.
Then it happened and in some ways it felt like a personal journey has been complete. Like Mayweather & Pacquiao I have lost a step and I am no longer in my prime, but I think I am still doing ok. Back then I was a lone wolf ready to take over the media world, now I have a dog who sleeps most of the day next to me and a staff that handles the majority of our coverage.
But, I will be there in Vegas (still flying Southwest, that much hasn’t changed) because sometimes even if you have to take the long way around it is still worth the trip.