WATCH: Pacquiao, Mayweather meet at Miami Heat game

MANILA, Philippines – Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr. have finally met. Not at center-ring, but court side at a Miami Heat game. 

The two pound-for-pound entrants were both coincidentally at the American Airlines Arena as the Heat played the Milwaukee Bucks when Mayweather and his Money Team walked to the other side of the court where Pacquiao was seated, Associated Press reports. 

Pacquiao (57-5-2, 38 knockouts) and Mayweather Jr. (47-0, 26 KOs) spoke for a brief moment at halftime, exchanging phone numbers in what was their first face-to-face meeting in their 5-year on-and-off negotiation courtship. The two parted with a brief hug.

“He gave his number to me and said we will communicate with each other,” Pacquiao, who was accompanied by adviser Michael Koncz, told AP.

The Heat posted a photo of both fighters on the big screen during the first half, accompanied by the words “Coming in 2015?”

Pacquiao, 36, had already been in Miami as a judge for the Miss Universe competition and was expected to leave earlier but had his flight canceled due to the winter storm that affected travel throughout the eastern United States. Mayweather is a frequent attendee of Heat games.

Mayweather didn’t answer when asked about what was discussed in the meeting, as a security guard shooed reporters away and said “Not now.”

The latest round of negotiations started off with greater optimism with HBO CEO Richard Plepler and CBS CEO Leslie Moonves joining the discussions for what is expected to be the most lucrative fight in boxing history.

Pacquiao publicly stated that he had agreed to all of Mayweather’s terms, including random pre-fight drug testing, a 60-40 purse split in Mayweather’s favor, as well as Mayweather’s preferred date of May 2, and venue, the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Talks for the fight seemed to break down however, with Pacquiao’s promoter Bob Arum telling Mayweather he had until the end of January to solidify an agreement. Mayweather countered by stating that Pacquiao had no right too agree on a fight because Arum has the final say. 

While abroad, Pacquiao had visited London, England to have dinner with Prince Harry, as well as hold informal talks with former unified junior welterweight titleholder Amir Khan for a back-up fight, should talks with Mayweather fall through.

After a disastrous 2012 that gave way to a largely inactive 2013, Pacquiao recovered his standing in the sport by avenging his previous loss to Timothy Bradley with a unanimous decision victory in 2014, followed by a six-knockdown decision performance against previously unbeaten Chris Algieri in November.

Mayweather, 37, stands as the sport’s top pound-for-pound best fighter, according to The Ring magazine, and kept busy in 2014 with two decision wins over Marcos Maidana.

Prior to the face-to-face meeting, Pacquiao told Sky Sports that he felt 80 percent confident that the fight will happen this time around. 

“If this doesn’t happen now I don’t think it will, so now is the time,” said Pacquiao.

This isn’t the first time the two have spoken without a mediator. Mayweather placed a call to Pacquiao in early 2012, when both were listed as co-pound-for-pound champions, but Pacquiao’s losses to Bradley and Juan Manuel Marquez put an end to discussions at that point. – Rappler.com