Thursday, January 7, 2010
BAD NEWS!!! Fight was cancelled
After all of the different issues, a decision was made. The most awaited fight by everybody was cancelled. It was from the Promoter Bob Arum who says that the bout between the Filipino Manny "Pacman" Pacquiao and the American Floyd Mayweather Jr. is OFF.
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
Cancelled?
LAS VEGAS - The promoter for boxing sensation Manny Pacquiao says a fight against Floyd Mayweather Jr. will not happen unless Mayweather’s camp drops its insistence for Olympic-style blood testing.
Promoter Bob Arum says if that doesn’t happen by Thursday, the proposed March 13 fight that would have likely been the richest ever in boxing is over.
Arum accused Mayweather’s camp of raising the issue not because they were worried about Pacquiao taking performance-enhancing substances, but because Mayweather never wanted to fight in the first place.
Promoter Bob Arum says if that doesn’t happen by Thursday, the proposed March 13 fight that would have likely been the richest ever in boxing is over.
Arum accused Mayweather’s camp of raising the issue not because they were worried about Pacquiao taking performance-enhancing substances, but because Mayweather never wanted to fight in the first place.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Judge to Mediate Mayweather-Pacquiao Impasse
Representatives of Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather will meet on Tuesday in retired federal judge Daniel Weinstein's Santa Monica office of Judicial Arbitration and Mediation Services (JAMS) in an attempt to revive talks for the fighters' potential March 13 megabout at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions, said he will be present on behalf of Pacquiao, as will his stepson, Top Rank president Todd duBoef. Also, there will be a representative of the Los Angeles-based law firm O'Melveny and Myers, whose attorney Daniel Petrocelli has been retained to take the case.
Perhaps best known for gaining a conviction in a wrongful death civil suit against O.J. Simpson in 1997, Petrocelli last Wednesday filed a lawsuit on behalf of Pacquiao seeking compensatory and punitive damages for defamation of character against Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, as well as Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., and the fighter's uncle, Roger Mayweather.
Contacted through his administrative assistant, Schaefer, via e-mail, declined to comment.
But Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, told FanHouse recently "we're still trying to make a deal. We feel that this is the biggest fight in the history of boxing. We want to give this fight to the fans."
The suit seeks damages in excess of $75,000 for Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts), who contends that the camp of Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) has damaged his reputation by demanding that both fighters be randomly drug-tested using urinalysis as well as blood work -- the latter being a procedure that never has been used in boxing.
Mayweather's camp initially wanted the Olympic-style, random blood-testing to be done by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. It has since backed off of that stance.
Neither Pacquiao nor Mayweather has ever tested positive for any banned substances.
Pending Tuesday's mediation at JAMS, Petrocelli can no longer comment directly on the case. Petrocelli did, however, speak to FanHouse last Wednesday -- within an hour of filing the suit.
"We filed a defamation of character lawsuit in the federal court in Las Vegas, Nev., against the Mayweathers, Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, based on their false and defamatory statements about Manny Pacquiao," said Petrocelli, "specifically their publicly stating that Pacquiao was taking steroids or other illegal drugs to enhance his performance -- knowing that there is absolutely no basis for any such assertions ... These guys have no right saying what they're saying. It's knowingly false, highly injurious."
Arum said that the only way for the negotiations to continue is for Mayweather's side to drop its demand for random blood-testing and to apologize, publicly, to Pacquiao.
"What they have to do -- and what I know the option is going to be -- is that they have to apologize. All of them. They have to make a meaningful apology," said Arum.
"If they want random blood-testing, they would have to go before the Nevada Commission and petition the commission for that," said Arum. "They have to agree that the Nevada Commission is regulating this fight -- period. No outside agency, no nothing. The have to go with the Nevada Commission -- period."
A native and resident of General Santos City, Philippines, the 31-year-old Pacquiao's career began as a 106-pounder. The Filipino superstar's Nov. 14, 12th-round technical knockout of Miguel Cotto earned the WBO's welterweight title -- his unprecedented seventh in as many different weight classes.
Since losing a unanimous decision to Erik Morales in March 2005, Pacquiao's ring performances have been extraordinary, if not exceptional.
Pacquiao is riding an 11-0 winning streak that includes eight knockouts -- a run that includes KOs in the 10th and third rounds, respectively, in subsequent bouts with Morales that avenged the earlier loss.
Pacquiao's past six victories include super featherweight (130 pounds) decisions over Mexican greats Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez -- this after having battled Marquez to a draw nearly four years earlier.
Pacquiao has knocked out his past four opponents, David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Cotto, respectively, while rising from lightweight (135 pounds) to junior welterweight (140), and on to the welterweight classes.
Some members of the boxing community have speculated publicly about Pacquiao's ability to carry his uncanny power with him as he has risen in weight.
Arum believes the criticism to be unfair, asking, "When has this ever come up in the past like this?"
Following his Sept. 2003, junior middleweight victory over Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley admitted to having used the doping agent EPO in connection with the BALCO steroids scandal.
"Shane Mosley was an admitted drug-user. And I've had Shane Mosley fight two of the guys that I've promoted in the last few years -- one of them was Miguel Cotto and the other was Antonio Margarito. Did I ever, ever, ever even indicate in any way that Shane Mosley should be subject to special testing? Ever? No," said Arum.
"The feeling in the Philippines, really, is that Manny's an Asian guy and this is really xenophobic. And because of his great success, this is what they're focusing on," said Arum. "So this is absolutely preposterous and hopefully the mediator will convince them of that."
If the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout does not take place, Arum has said that he is prepared to match Pacquiao against newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) Yuri Foreman (28-0, eight KOs) of New York, possibly on March 20 at The Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Bob Arum, CEO of Top Rank Promotions, said he will be present on behalf of Pacquiao, as will his stepson, Top Rank president Todd duBoef. Also, there will be a representative of the Los Angeles-based law firm O'Melveny and Myers, whose attorney Daniel Petrocelli has been retained to take the case.
Perhaps best known for gaining a conviction in a wrongful death civil suit against O.J. Simpson in 1997, Petrocelli last Wednesday filed a lawsuit on behalf of Pacquiao seeking compensatory and punitive damages for defamation of character against Richard Schaefer and Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy Promotions, as well as Floyd Mayweather Jr., Floyd Mayweather Sr., and the fighter's uncle, Roger Mayweather.
Contacted through his administrative assistant, Schaefer, via e-mail, declined to comment.
But Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions, told FanHouse recently "we're still trying to make a deal. We feel that this is the biggest fight in the history of boxing. We want to give this fight to the fans."
The suit seeks damages in excess of $75,000 for Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 knockouts), who contends that the camp of Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) has damaged his reputation by demanding that both fighters be randomly drug-tested using urinalysis as well as blood work -- the latter being a procedure that never has been used in boxing.
Mayweather's camp initially wanted the Olympic-style, random blood-testing to be done by the United States Anti-Doping Agency. It has since backed off of that stance.
Neither Pacquiao nor Mayweather has ever tested positive for any banned substances.
Pending Tuesday's mediation at JAMS, Petrocelli can no longer comment directly on the case. Petrocelli did, however, speak to FanHouse last Wednesday -- within an hour of filing the suit.
"We filed a defamation of character lawsuit in the federal court in Las Vegas, Nev., against the Mayweathers, Oscar De La Hoya and Richard Schaefer, based on their false and defamatory statements about Manny Pacquiao," said Petrocelli, "specifically their publicly stating that Pacquiao was taking steroids or other illegal drugs to enhance his performance -- knowing that there is absolutely no basis for any such assertions ... These guys have no right saying what they're saying. It's knowingly false, highly injurious."
Arum said that the only way for the negotiations to continue is for Mayweather's side to drop its demand for random blood-testing and to apologize, publicly, to Pacquiao.
"What they have to do -- and what I know the option is going to be -- is that they have to apologize. All of them. They have to make a meaningful apology," said Arum.
"If they want random blood-testing, they would have to go before the Nevada Commission and petition the commission for that," said Arum. "They have to agree that the Nevada Commission is regulating this fight -- period. No outside agency, no nothing. The have to go with the Nevada Commission -- period."
A native and resident of General Santos City, Philippines, the 31-year-old Pacquiao's career began as a 106-pounder. The Filipino superstar's Nov. 14, 12th-round technical knockout of Miguel Cotto earned the WBO's welterweight title -- his unprecedented seventh in as many different weight classes.
Since losing a unanimous decision to Erik Morales in March 2005, Pacquiao's ring performances have been extraordinary, if not exceptional.
Pacquiao is riding an 11-0 winning streak that includes eight knockouts -- a run that includes KOs in the 10th and third rounds, respectively, in subsequent bouts with Morales that avenged the earlier loss.
Pacquiao's past six victories include super featherweight (130 pounds) decisions over Mexican greats Marco Antonio Barrera and Juan Manuel Marquez -- this after having battled Marquez to a draw nearly four years earlier.
Pacquiao has knocked out his past four opponents, David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Ricky Hatton, and Cotto, respectively, while rising from lightweight (135 pounds) to junior welterweight (140), and on to the welterweight classes.
Some members of the boxing community have speculated publicly about Pacquiao's ability to carry his uncanny power with him as he has risen in weight.
Arum believes the criticism to be unfair, asking, "When has this ever come up in the past like this?"
Following his Sept. 2003, junior middleweight victory over Oscar De La Hoya, Shane Mosley admitted to having used the doping agent EPO in connection with the BALCO steroids scandal.
"Shane Mosley was an admitted drug-user. And I've had Shane Mosley fight two of the guys that I've promoted in the last few years -- one of them was Miguel Cotto and the other was Antonio Margarito. Did I ever, ever, ever even indicate in any way that Shane Mosley should be subject to special testing? Ever? No," said Arum.
"The feeling in the Philippines, really, is that Manny's an Asian guy and this is really xenophobic. And because of his great success, this is what they're focusing on," said Arum. "So this is absolutely preposterous and hopefully the mediator will convince them of that."
If the Mayweather-Pacquiao bout does not take place, Arum has said that he is prepared to match Pacquiao against newly-crowned WBA junior middleweight (154 pounds) Yuri Foreman (28-0, eight KOs) of New York, possibly on March 20 at The Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Vegas wants to reap tourism benefits of Pacquiao-Mayweather bou
Three cities are believed to be in the running to host what many consider the Super Bowl of professional boxing, the Manny Pacquiao-Floyd Mayweather Jr. fight on March 13.
Probably no one wants to host it more than Las Vegas, hungering for the millions of dollars the fight will generate for a city starved of its diet of tourists in a mood to have fun.
The fight may prove the most lucrative ever for Las Vegas in terms of filling rooms and restaurants with the big-spending followers of the sport, not to mention the wagering that comes with any high-profile sporting event.
Granted, such prize fights aren’t the town’s biggest moneymakers.
Pacquiao-Mayweather has the potential of topping $13 million in nongaming revenue generated for the city, experts say. By comparison, last year’s Las Vegas Bowl that pitted Arizona against BYU and which drew 42,350 people, 75 percent of whom were from out of town, generated $14.2 million for the city.
Last year’s National Finals Rodeo — a 10-day event — brought $49.8 million to the city, and the 280,000 people who celebrated New Year’s Eve here contributed $189 million to the local economy plus what they left behind at the tables.
Still, Las Vegas has benefited from the economic punch that comes with being the Boxing Capital of the World.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has tracked the economic effect of most of the major boxing matches in Las Vegas. Although there’s no established formula for predicting how much nongaming revenue would be generated for the community by Pacquiao-Mayweather, the total could be among the highest ever.
Coming up with a hard prediction is difficult because of the many variables that determine how robust the fight-centered spending would be. Among the factors considered by LVCVA analysts are the size of the venue hosting the fight, the appeal of the boxers involved, how well their supporters travel and the economic climate at the time of the fight.
The run-up of the hype and the media coverage preceding the match also figure into the equation.
In this case, fans of the sport have long awaited a battle between the Filipino Pacquiao, considered by Ring magazine to be the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, and Mayweather, who is ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound and is undefeated in 40 matches.
Both fighters have legions of loyal fans; Mayweather is considered one of the top Americans in the sport, while Pacquiao is a national hero in his native country.
The three cities most often mentioned hosting the fight are Las Vegas, Dallas (on the strength of the new, 100,000-seat, giant-screen Cowboys Stadium) and New Orleans, with its 80,000-plus seat Superdome. Yankee Stadium in New York and the Staples Center in Los Angeles were considered and dismissed because of the high tax rates in New York and California.
The Los Angeles Times has reported that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has offered a $25 million guarantee to host the fight, citing a source close to the negotiations, exceeding the $20 million guarantee that Staples Center offered fight promoters this week.
Promoter Bob Arum has said he expects to make a decision by next week, and Rossi Ralenkotter, president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, says the town can make a strong argument for bringing the fight here.
“We’ve hosted some of the biggest boxing matches in history and we have an international reputation,” he said. “Las Vegas works well for the promoters because it has such an electric, 24-hour atmosphere.”
The major fights in the past five years in Las Vegas have been sponsored or hosted by the Thomas & Mack Center, MGM Grand Garden Arena or the Mandalay Bay arena. They’ve usually drawn more than 8,000 fans to the gate and generated more than $6 million for the community.
One of the biggest fights by estimated nongaming economic impact in the past five years was the Nov. 18, 2006, match between Pacquiao and Erik Morales — the third meeting between them. That fight, staged at the Thomas & Mack Center, drew 18,276 to the arena and generated an estimated $12.9 million for Las Vegas.
Mayweather has been in two matches at the MGM Grand, each drawing about 16,700 fans and each bringing in more than $12.5 million in revenue to town along with gambling — his May 5, 2007 fight with Oscar De La Hoya and his Dec. 8, 2007 bout against Ricky Hatton.
All three of those fights occurred before the economy tanked and involved boxers with legions of followers willing to travel to support their man.
One of the sport’s most notorious Las Vegas fights drew 16,331 fans to MGM Grand, but the economic impact to Las Vegas was only calculated at $9 million. On June 28, 1997, heavyweights Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield battled in “The Sound and the Fury,” as the bout was promoted. In that fight, Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield’s ear, touching off a near riot that spilled into the casino.
For the upcoming fight, negotiations between fight promoter Bob Arum and the potential venues have been close to the vest, but typically a company like MGM Mirage will present a package that guarantees hotel rooms, food and beverage, special side events and other incentives in addition to a financial commitment.
Las Vegas and Dallas both have airports with hundreds of flights from cities across the country and both airports are easy drives to the arenas.
The biggest downside for Las Vegas is the size of the house — five times as many tickets could be sold at Cowboys Stadium than at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. But promoters also have to ask whether Dallas could serve up the same sideshow atmosphere and provide enough hotel rooms for fight attendees. And, of course, there’s no gambling — legal wagering anyway — in Texas.
Mayweather trains in Las Vegas and has a home here. Some say that could result in a “home-field advantage” for him, even though both boxers have staged their past five bouts here.
The decision is likely to come down to whether Arum wants to rely on a proven host with a solid reputation for big events or a newcomer with lots of upside but no track record on an event of this magnitude.
Probably no one wants to host it more than Las Vegas, hungering for the millions of dollars the fight will generate for a city starved of its diet of tourists in a mood to have fun.
The fight may prove the most lucrative ever for Las Vegas in terms of filling rooms and restaurants with the big-spending followers of the sport, not to mention the wagering that comes with any high-profile sporting event.
Granted, such prize fights aren’t the town’s biggest moneymakers.
Pacquiao-Mayweather has the potential of topping $13 million in nongaming revenue generated for the city, experts say. By comparison, last year’s Las Vegas Bowl that pitted Arizona against BYU and which drew 42,350 people, 75 percent of whom were from out of town, generated $14.2 million for the city.
Last year’s National Finals Rodeo — a 10-day event — brought $49.8 million to the city, and the 280,000 people who celebrated New Year’s Eve here contributed $189 million to the local economy plus what they left behind at the tables.
Still, Las Vegas has benefited from the economic punch that comes with being the Boxing Capital of the World.
The Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority has tracked the economic effect of most of the major boxing matches in Las Vegas. Although there’s no established formula for predicting how much nongaming revenue would be generated for the community by Pacquiao-Mayweather, the total could be among the highest ever.
Coming up with a hard prediction is difficult because of the many variables that determine how robust the fight-centered spending would be. Among the factors considered by LVCVA analysts are the size of the venue hosting the fight, the appeal of the boxers involved, how well their supporters travel and the economic climate at the time of the fight.
The run-up of the hype and the media coverage preceding the match also figure into the equation.
In this case, fans of the sport have long awaited a battle between the Filipino Pacquiao, considered by Ring magazine to be the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter, and Mayweather, who is ranked No. 2 pound-for-pound and is undefeated in 40 matches.
Both fighters have legions of loyal fans; Mayweather is considered one of the top Americans in the sport, while Pacquiao is a national hero in his native country.
The three cities most often mentioned hosting the fight are Las Vegas, Dallas (on the strength of the new, 100,000-seat, giant-screen Cowboys Stadium) and New Orleans, with its 80,000-plus seat Superdome. Yankee Stadium in New York and the Staples Center in Los Angeles were considered and dismissed because of the high tax rates in New York and California.
The Los Angeles Times has reported that Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has offered a $25 million guarantee to host the fight, citing a source close to the negotiations, exceeding the $20 million guarantee that Staples Center offered fight promoters this week.
Promoter Bob Arum has said he expects to make a decision by next week, and Rossi Ralenkotter, president of the Las Vegas Convention and Visitors Authority, says the town can make a strong argument for bringing the fight here.
“We’ve hosted some of the biggest boxing matches in history and we have an international reputation,” he said. “Las Vegas works well for the promoters because it has such an electric, 24-hour atmosphere.”
The major fights in the past five years in Las Vegas have been sponsored or hosted by the Thomas & Mack Center, MGM Grand Garden Arena or the Mandalay Bay arena. They’ve usually drawn more than 8,000 fans to the gate and generated more than $6 million for the community.
One of the biggest fights by estimated nongaming economic impact in the past five years was the Nov. 18, 2006, match between Pacquiao and Erik Morales — the third meeting between them. That fight, staged at the Thomas & Mack Center, drew 18,276 to the arena and generated an estimated $12.9 million for Las Vegas.
Mayweather has been in two matches at the MGM Grand, each drawing about 16,700 fans and each bringing in more than $12.5 million in revenue to town along with gambling — his May 5, 2007 fight with Oscar De La Hoya and his Dec. 8, 2007 bout against Ricky Hatton.
All three of those fights occurred before the economy tanked and involved boxers with legions of followers willing to travel to support their man.
One of the sport’s most notorious Las Vegas fights drew 16,331 fans to MGM Grand, but the economic impact to Las Vegas was only calculated at $9 million. On June 28, 1997, heavyweights Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield battled in “The Sound and the Fury,” as the bout was promoted. In that fight, Tyson bit off a piece of Holyfield’s ear, touching off a near riot that spilled into the casino.
For the upcoming fight, negotiations between fight promoter Bob Arum and the potential venues have been close to the vest, but typically a company like MGM Mirage will present a package that guarantees hotel rooms, food and beverage, special side events and other incentives in addition to a financial commitment.
Las Vegas and Dallas both have airports with hundreds of flights from cities across the country and both airports are easy drives to the arenas.
The biggest downside for Las Vegas is the size of the house — five times as many tickets could be sold at Cowboys Stadium than at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. But promoters also have to ask whether Dallas could serve up the same sideshow atmosphere and provide enough hotel rooms for fight attendees. And, of course, there’s no gambling — legal wagering anyway — in Texas.
Mayweather trains in Las Vegas and has a home here. Some say that could result in a “home-field advantage” for him, even though both boxers have staged their past five bouts here.
The decision is likely to come down to whether Arum wants to rely on a proven host with a solid reputation for big events or a newcomer with lots of upside but no track record on an event of this magnitude.
Scource: Mayweather-Pacquiao Could Be Done This Week
With each fighter's side in virtual agreement with all of the parameters, and the potential sites narrowed down to The MGM Grand in Las Vegas and Dallas Cowboys' Stadium, a deal for the March 13, Floyd Mayweather Jr.-Manny Pacquiao megabout could "definitely be finalized this week," according to a scource close to the negotiations.
Although Dallas Cowboys' owner, Jerry Jones, has offered $25 million to host the bout, that number is expected to be surpassed by The MGM Grand, where both fighters and their respective promoters have routinely enjoyed success.
The 32-year-old Mayweather, a five-time champion being represented by Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, is 6-0 with two knockouts at The MGM.
The 30-year-old Pacquiao, a winner of seven crowns in as many weight divisions, is promoted by Top Rank's Bob Arum. Pacquiao is 3-1-1 at MGM.
Citing a source involved in the site talks, The Los Angeles Times spelled out a scenario in which the MGM Grand would generate $28 million in live-gate sales, offer 40,000 closed-circuit seats through MGM/Mirage properties, and charge $100 a head for a possible $4 million surplus -- a total worth of around $32 million.
"I really believe that it will be done by late Thursday," said the source. "It will definitely be finalized this week. I'm just not sure if it's going to be Dallas or the MGM."
Schaefer, Mayweather's manager, Leonard Ellerbe, and Mayweather's camp members have agreed not to comment publicly during negotiations.
But Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's adviser, believes he knows where the fight will take place.
"I believe that it will end up at the MGM because both fighters want to fight in Las Vegas," said Koncz. "I think that both fighters have expressed their desire to fight in Las Vegas."
Pacquiao has even agreed to an Olympic-style, random drug test at the request of Mayweather's camp.
Floyd Mayweather Sr., the fighter's father, has insinuated that the Filipino star may have used steroids since he's maintained his punching power from 106-to-nearly 147 pounds.
"They make a big deal out of Manny's having super-natural power. But Manny's just a freak of nature and he's very religious," said Koncz.
"I don't know if there's a connection [between Pacquiao's faith and his power], but there are, certainly, no illicit drugs there," said Koncz. "I know that for a fact. Maybe Manny does get it from The Lord."
Mayweather-Pacquiao will be contested at the welterweight (147) limit for the WBO title that Pacquiao earned from Cotto on Nov. 14.
Pacquiao is 11-0 with eight knockouts since a March, 2008 loss to Erik Morales -- including consecutive KOs of David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Rick Hatton, and Miguel Cotto.
A Las Vegas resident, Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) has decisioned Gregorio Vargas, Jose Luis Castillo, De La Hoya, and, Juan Manuel Marquez at MGM, where he also has stopped Diego Corrales and Hatton.
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) has stopped De La Hoya, Hatton, and Cotto, at MGM, drawn with Marquez, and lost to Morales.
"There has been no contract for us to review, but Manny and I are in constant communication with Arum, and everything is upbeat and there's no red flags," said Koncz of Pacquiao, who is all but ready to sign after being guaranteed $25 million by Arum.
"As far as I'm concerned, the deal is already done. The only issue is the venue. We've countered the offer and the majority of the things just have to be accepted by Arum," said Koncz.
"We're not in a panic-mode. We're used to this for every fight. It's routine. We come to an agreement down the road, then the contract is sent to us for review," said Koncz.
"There's been no negative response back, so if there was a problem, Arum would have told me," said Koncz. "So as far as we're concerned, it's done."
Although Dallas Cowboys' owner, Jerry Jones, has offered $25 million to host the bout, that number is expected to be surpassed by The MGM Grand, where both fighters and their respective promoters have routinely enjoyed success.
The 32-year-old Mayweather, a five-time champion being represented by Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, is 6-0 with two knockouts at The MGM.
The 30-year-old Pacquiao, a winner of seven crowns in as many weight divisions, is promoted by Top Rank's Bob Arum. Pacquiao is 3-1-1 at MGM.
Citing a source involved in the site talks, The Los Angeles Times spelled out a scenario in which the MGM Grand would generate $28 million in live-gate sales, offer 40,000 closed-circuit seats through MGM/Mirage properties, and charge $100 a head for a possible $4 million surplus -- a total worth of around $32 million.
"I really believe that it will be done by late Thursday," said the source. "It will definitely be finalized this week. I'm just not sure if it's going to be Dallas or the MGM."
Schaefer, Mayweather's manager, Leonard Ellerbe, and Mayweather's camp members have agreed not to comment publicly during negotiations.
But Michael Koncz, Pacquiao's adviser, believes he knows where the fight will take place.
"I believe that it will end up at the MGM because both fighters want to fight in Las Vegas," said Koncz. "I think that both fighters have expressed their desire to fight in Las Vegas."
Pacquiao has even agreed to an Olympic-style, random drug test at the request of Mayweather's camp.
Floyd Mayweather Sr., the fighter's father, has insinuated that the Filipino star may have used steroids since he's maintained his punching power from 106-to-nearly 147 pounds.
"They make a big deal out of Manny's having super-natural power. But Manny's just a freak of nature and he's very religious," said Koncz.
"I don't know if there's a connection [between Pacquiao's faith and his power], but there are, certainly, no illicit drugs there," said Koncz. "I know that for a fact. Maybe Manny does get it from The Lord."
Mayweather-Pacquiao will be contested at the welterweight (147) limit for the WBO title that Pacquiao earned from Cotto on Nov. 14.
Pacquiao is 11-0 with eight knockouts since a March, 2008 loss to Erik Morales -- including consecutive KOs of David Diaz, Oscar De La Hoya, Rick Hatton, and Miguel Cotto.
A Las Vegas resident, Mayweather (40-0, 25 KOs) has decisioned Gregorio Vargas, Jose Luis Castillo, De La Hoya, and, Juan Manuel Marquez at MGM, where he also has stopped Diego Corrales and Hatton.
Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KOs) has stopped De La Hoya, Hatton, and Cotto, at MGM, drawn with Marquez, and lost to Morales.
"There has been no contract for us to review, but Manny and I are in constant communication with Arum, and everything is upbeat and there's no red flags," said Koncz of Pacquiao, who is all but ready to sign after being guaranteed $25 million by Arum.
"As far as I'm concerned, the deal is already done. The only issue is the venue. We've countered the offer and the majority of the things just have to be accepted by Arum," said Koncz.
"We're not in a panic-mode. We're used to this for every fight. It's routine. We come to an agreement down the road, then the contract is sent to us for review," said Koncz.
"There's been no negative response back, so if there was a problem, Arum would have told me," said Koncz. "So as far as we're concerned, it's done."
PACMAN is at new lvl
I have been to a couple of small boxing shows locally and I have been to UFCs that have been sold out like the Cotto-Pacquiao fight, but it’s a whole different crowd man. It’s a different kind of crowd. It’s like half of the crowd was Puerto Rican and the other half was Filipino, so it was kind of crazy. People had flags and they either had on a Cotto shirt or a Pacquiao shirt. You were either carrying a Puerto Rican flag or a Philippines flag. It was crazy. It was madness. I have never seen somebody come on camera and half of the stadium booed and the other half cheered. It was nuts.
Being someone that is coming off of a devastating loss myself, I would tell Cotto that everybody loses at that level; at this skill level and being a professional, anything can happen in a fight. You just take your loss, let it make you a better person and learn how the guy beat you and try not to let it happen again. It’s a mental thing and every fighter has to have this in their mind, when you go to a gun fight, you’re going to get shot sometimes. When you get shot, you gotta suck it up, lick your wounds and be ready to do it again and be better prepared for it the next time.
As far as the Pacquiao-Mayweather mega-fight, I like Mayweather a lot; I think his style of boxing is real slick, but I don’t know man, I think Pacquiao is on a different level right now. He’s all about business. I was impressed at how he got to Cotto because Cotto was a lot bigger dude. I don’t see Mayweather being bigger than Pacquiao in this fight. They are going to be about the same size and I’m going to have to go with Pacquiao. If anybody can beat Pacquiao, it’s going to be Mayweather, but I’m going to stay with the safe pick and go with Pacquiao!
Being someone that is coming off of a devastating loss myself, I would tell Cotto that everybody loses at that level; at this skill level and being a professional, anything can happen in a fight. You just take your loss, let it make you a better person and learn how the guy beat you and try not to let it happen again. It’s a mental thing and every fighter has to have this in their mind, when you go to a gun fight, you’re going to get shot sometimes. When you get shot, you gotta suck it up, lick your wounds and be ready to do it again and be better prepared for it the next time.
As far as the Pacquiao-Mayweather mega-fight, I like Mayweather a lot; I think his style of boxing is real slick, but I don’t know man, I think Pacquiao is on a different level right now. He’s all about business. I was impressed at how he got to Cotto because Cotto was a lot bigger dude. I don’t see Mayweather being bigger than Pacquiao in this fight. They are going to be about the same size and I’m going to have to go with Pacquiao. If anybody can beat Pacquiao, it’s going to be Mayweather, but I’m going to stay with the safe pick and go with Pacquiao!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
Although it is not etched in stone yet, the probability of the most anticipated fight since Oscar De La Hoya vs. Felix Trinidad happening is very good, according to recent reports. There have been a number of great fights throughout the years, but few come close to the drama and storylines that this fight provides. I can’t remember a fight of this magnitude, involving two fighters who are so different from each other in so many aspects.
You have arguably the most arrogant and talkative fighter facing the most humble fighter in the sport. Also, has there ever been a bout between the best defensive fighter and the most feared offensive fighter who are both also considered to be the best pound-for-pound fighters? The matchup that might come close is the first bout between Ali and Frazier, but was Joe Frazier considered the most feared and best pound-for-pound fighter at the time? George Foreman was probably feared more than Frazier, as he was knocking guys out left and right during that time. Someone else mentioned Sugar Ray Leonard vs. Roberto Duran as a comparable fight and I tend to agree.
What makes the fight more fascinating is that this is not your typical fight between a pure boxer and a slugger. Both possess extraordinary athleticism and are complete fighters in their own way. It’s not a light-hitting Pernell Whitaker against a slow Julio Cesar Chavez.
There is also a sense of irony when you analyze their career. Pacquiao keeps on surpassing all the expectations bestowed upon him and has arguably reached the greatness many expected from Mayweather. Mayweather’s career and greatness, on the other hand, seems to have reached a plateau because of the decisions he has made. Just imagine the story lines preceding the fight. The 24/7 episodes might attract more viewers than most pay-per-view fights in recent years.
This matchup reminds me of a Rocky movie. You have an arrogant, flashy and talented fighter going against a fighter who came from nowhere to achieve greatness that many did not expect from him. There’s no doubt that this fight will be talked about for years to come, even if it doesn’t live up to the hype.
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