Mayweather and Pacquiao camps trade barbs over tickets, rooms, contract

LAS VEGAS – Just 23 days before Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao are to step into the ring at the MGM Grand Garden for what will be the largest-grossing fight in boxing history, a significant dispute has erupted between the promoters.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who promotes Pacquiao, said no contract exists between MGM Resorts and the promoters. Asked point blank if the highly anticipated May 2 fight is in jeopardy, Arum told Yahoo Sports, "I don't know any more. I've never been in this area before."

Mayweather Promotions CEO Leonard Ellerbe, who has been handling negotiations with MGM, said the notion the fight is in jeopardy is ridiculous.

Ellerbe ripped into Arum and said he is just doing his due diligence to make sure the event does as well as possible.

A deal terms memo was signed between the parties in February, shortly before Mayweather announced on Feb. 20 that he had signed to face Pacquiao. That memo covered items such as how many tickets and rooms would go to the MGM and how many would go to the promoters.