Manny Pacquiao, 50 Cent forming promotional company?

As the relationship between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and 50 Cent sours, the rapper has turned to his ex-best friend’s biggest rival for a business venture.

According to Boxing Scene, 50 Cent and Manny Pacquiao are planning to form a promotional company.

Pacquiao’s advisor, Michael Koncz, spoke with Boxing Scene about the development of the idea.

“50 Cent and I have been talking now for maybe the last two months. They approached us with the idea to form a promotional company,” Koncz told Boxing Scene.

“Initially it was going to be 50 Cent, Manny and Floyd. But right now I don’t think Floyd is going to be a part of it. I explained the idea to Manny. We already have a promotional company, MP Promotions, and we have already done three separate promotions from Top Rank … on a small scale. I have to take the blame for that. I’m in charge of it. There is an element missing there, but I have so much to do with Manny – that I haven’t got that company to where I want it.

“I think with 50 Cent, with his entertainment connections and his popularity there, combining that with Manny’s popularity and expertise in boxing –- we can bring a new flavor to boxing -– we can excite some young boxers and I think we can sign some top quality boxers. I spoke to 50 Cent (Wednesday) and confirmed that we’re going to go forward. Manny is coming here this weekend for other business, but we’re all excited about it. With 50′s influence in the music industry – we want to put a different flavor on the shows.”

What a radical change. Back in April, Mayweather proudly announced that his best friend 50 Cent was becoming a boxing promoter. 50 started TMT Promotions in July and even signed a handful of fighters. The contract for one of those fighters reportedly will rollover to Mayweather’s promotional group now that 50 is closing his company to form a new one.

In July, 50 Cent made it seem like a certainty that he would begin promoting Mayweather’s future fights, not Golden Boy Promotions. But after Mayweather went to prison, he came back changed, according to 50, who confirmed there is now friction between the two. This failed business venture apparently was the source of their issues.

Like we figured, Mayweather’s decision not to partner with 50 Cent is what the rapper was talking about last weekend when he said Mayweather doesn’t want to “give somebody something.” It’s obvious that Mayweather was going to help out his buddy by fighting for his promotional company, but he changed his mind, which forced 50 Cent to come up with alternative plans.

But can you imagine if Mayweather, 50 Cent, and Pacquiao all teamed together to form a promotional group? These two couldn’t agree on a fight for years, yet they were going to be business partners? Go figure.

Photo: Jake Roth-US PRESSWIRE