Almost a done deal for MGM Grand, Las Vegas

MANILA, Philippines – “Fight Capital of the World” Las Vegas was favored early on to host the blockbuster clash between Floyd Mayweather, Jr. and Manny Pacquiao at the MGM Grand.

There is no official announcement yet, though various sources claimed that the bout will take place in “Sin City.”

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal (LVRJ), the fighters’ camps and the MGM Grand have yet to seal the deal.

“We're finalizing the details… Hopefully we'll have it done this coming week,” Top Rank Promotions President Todd duBoef revealed on Saturday (Sunday in Manila). He added that he will release a statement once the fight details are finalized.

Pacquiao’s Canadian adviser, Mike Koncz, said that they always knew that Las Vegas would host the fight. “As far as we know it’s always been Vegas,” Koncz told Abac Cordero of The Philippine Star.

Franklin Gacal, Pacquiao’s lawyer, noted: “There’s no other place to hold it than Vegas. With all the casinos and the high-rollers coming over, it’s just hard to match. Nasa Vegas ang pera (The money is in Vegas).”

A source close to the Mayweather camp, meanwhile, told LVRJ, “Nothing is signed. The talks are ongoing. It's getting close, but there's no deal in place yet.”

The superstar boxers are slated to face off on March 13. Pacquiao will put his World Boxing Organization (WBO) welterweight title on the line.

Dallas vs Vegas

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has expressed his interest to host the Pacquiao-Mayweather bout in the Cowboys Stadium, making an initial offer of $25 million.

Pacquiao and Mayweather’s promoters, Bob Arum of Top Rank and Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, were supposed to visit the Cowboys Stadium. But Schaefer cancelled the scheduled visit to Texas.

Las Vegas, meantime, was regarded to be the popular and familiar choice as the fight venue.

The most recent fights of Pacquiao and Mayweather were held in “Sin City” this year.

Mayweather defeated Mexican Juan Manuel Marquez by unanimous decision on September 19 while Pacquiao overcame Puerto Rican Miguel Cotto via a 12thh round knockout on November 14. Both bouts took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Source: abs-cbnnews.com