According to Andre
Pederneiras, the wheels are in motion for a boxing showdown
between Jose Aldo and
Floyd
Mayweather Jr.
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During a backstage interview with Sherdog.com at UFC 283, the Nova
Uniao coach stated that Aldo was already negotiating for an
international fight that would follow his debut against Argentina
native Emmanuel Zambrano under the Shooto Brazil Boxing banner on
Feb. 10. Pederneiras’ statement led to speculation that Aldo could
be close to facing the biggest name in Brazilian boxing, four-time
world champion Acelino Popo Freitas, who had been using social
media to challenge the former UFC featherweight champion for a long
time. Instead, Aldo revealed the suprise opponent to media shortly
after he defeated Zambrano via unanimous decision last week.
“Negotiations are progressing for me to fight Mayweather in June or
July,” Aldo said.
Shortly after that announcement, Sherdog contacted Pederneiras, who
serves as co-manager of Aldo, to see if the proposed fight had a
real chance of taking place.
“Negotiations are really advanced,” Pederneiras said. “We hope to
have the contract signed before Aldo’s next fight with Jeremy
Stephens on April 1. We don’t have a month decided yet but we
already know that the fight will take place in Abu Dhabi.”
Pederneiras also said that the Brazilian fans’ dream fight of Aldo
vs. Popo can still happen — just not yet.
“We have great respect for Popo, who is a great national idol, and
for everything he represents for Brazilian boxing. But as a manager
I have to look out for the best interests of my athlete, and this
fight with Mayweather is huge,” he said. “Unfortunately, there are
some insane people on the internet in Brazil saying that Aldo is
scared. Something like that doesn’t even deserve a response. Today
we have something much bigger to negotiate, but who knows if in the
future this matchup happens.”
Aldo is slated to meet Stephens under the Gamebred Boxing banner at
the Fiserv Forum in Milwaukee, Wisc., on April 1 in a six-round
boxing match.