Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. crossed paths in an unlikely manner, during an NBA game which pitted the Miami Heat and the Milwaukee Bucks.
The meeting was not planned or done intentionally. It just so happened that Pacquiao saw his flight cancelled due to the winter storm affecting New York and Boston, thus giving him the opportunity to watch the NBA match. The Filipino boxer was in Miami after serving as one of the judges in the recently concluded Miss Universe pageant.
For his part, Mayweather has been known to be a regular spectator when NBA games are held in Miami. And for some reason, fate brought the two face to face and for the first time.
It was Mayweather who went on over to meet Pacquiao during halftime where both men shook hands and had a brief chat. They reportedly even exchanged numbers, sparking some hope that their much sought after dream bout can still gain some ground.
"He gave his number to me and said we will communicate with each other,'' said Pacquiao, adding that he had never before met Mayweather in person.
With regards to what they talked about, neither one was talking although Mayweather scolded Pacquiao for what he terms as "spreading lies".
But apparently the meeting at the hardwood was not the end of it. It was later reported by the Los Angeles Times that Mayweather paid Pacquiao a visit at his Miami hotel suite where both discussed privately. And as per Pacquiao's adviser Mick Koncz, everything seemed to have gone well.
"Floyd was sincere," Koncz said.
"Everyone left on good terms," Koncz said of the meeting inside the suite. "Floyd's very personable, very cordial."
From where it stands, the potential bout has been given a big boost as it gains progress. An agreement between CBS and HBO has been confirmed and both networks. Lead broadcasters have been chosen (HBO's Jim Lampley and Max Kellerman and Showtime's Mauro Ranallo and Al Bernstein) and each network will produce hour-long shows for their respective fighters.
"Floyd pledged to get it done and get everyone on the same page," Showtime Executive Vice President Stephen Espinoza said. "It was, 'Hey, there's still some open issues, let's get on the same page.' Floyd's in the loop on the bigger issues.
"They had a friendly, positive discussion. … It remains to be seen whether it was productive.
"The real measure of that is if can we come to an agreement."
