HBO's Greenburg says there WERE negotiations

Bob Arum, the promoter of Manny Pacquiao, said last week that he negotiated with Floyd Mayweather Jr. for a proposed Nov. 13 fight through HBO Sports President Ross Greenburg.

Leonard Ellerbe, one of Mayweather's advisors, then issued a bizarre statement claiming no negotiations ever took place. That was corroborated by Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, with which Mayweather is affiliated.

Now Greenburg releases a short statement on Monday evening saying he did in fact act as a go-between in negotiations with the two sides.

The statement:

“Fights like Mayweather vs. Pacquiao are significant because of these fighters’ ability to connect with sports fans around the world. It’s unfortunate that it won’t happen in 2010. I had been negotiating with a representative from each side since May 2nd, carefully trying to put the fight together. Hopefully, someday this fight will happen. Sports fans deserve it.”

You be the judge.