Super bout: UAE investors offer Mayweather $110 million to fight Manny Pacquiao A consortium of investors have offered boxing superstar Floyd Mayweather $110 million to finally step into the ring with Manny Pacquiao – and they want the fight to be held in the UAE. The two biggest stars in boxing have been fierce rivals for years, yet they have never settled their differences in the ring – a match that the whole sporting world is dying to see. Filipino icon Pacquiao called out Mayweather after defeating Chris Algieri last month, and a UAE investment group wants a piece of the action. Speaking on behalf of the consortium, boxing executive M Akbar Muhammad said: “The funding is in place, and because of this and the group’s unique and distinctive make-up and backgrounds, it has emerged as the leading and most serious group striving to secure the bout.” The group of UAE investors are determined to deliver one of boxing’s most eagerly anticipated bouts. Fronted by veteran boxing executive M. Akbar Muhammad, the UAE investors plan to work directly with Mayweather Promotions in order to finally deliver the blockbuster clash. “I’ve been instructed by the group to do whatever it takes to bring this long-awaited and eagerly-anticipated fight to fruition,” he told boxingscene. “There’s absolutely no doubt that each fighter, individually, will receive more money than any other boxer has in the past. The combined purses are approaching $200million. And, rest assured, we have the resources to do just that.” Muhammad, a former vice president of TopRank promotions, who manage Filipino superstar Pacquiao, hopes the fight could be held in the UAE, but insists the investment group are open to the bout taking place elsewhere. “We want to be a part of Mr. Mayweather’s historic march to 50-0, no matter where the fights may take place,” he added. One potential stumbling block for the fight being held in the UAE is the time difference to North America, where a vast amount of money would be generated through pay-per-view television sales. “The revenue for the boxers is driven by pay-per-view and the American audience so that often dictates fights,” explains Thomas Ovesen, COO of Done Events. “So unless a local individual or government body can help, then it is unlikely to be the destination of choice. But there is nothing logistically stopping it from taking place in Dubai.” In fact the emirate has already hosted a world title fight when Xiong Zhao Zhong of China successfully defended his minimumweight WBC world title against Denver Cuello at the Dubai World Trade Centre in 2013. However, this fight was not on the same global scale as the one with Mayweather and Pacquiao would be. And with both fighters coming towards the end of successful careers they will be determined to earn the highest amount possible. Therefore gaining a large pay-per-view audience will be paramount. But even if the fight did not happen in the UAE, it seems the local investors are determined to make sure the undefeated Mayweather faces the eight-weight world champion. “There is no ambiguity about the ability and motivation of this group. That’s evidenced by the purse amount, said Muhammad. “We’re committed to creating a week-long event, the magnitude of which has never been seen.” >>Floyd Mayweather claims he is ‘TBE’ – The Best Ever, but many boxing fans argue that he has cherry-picked opponents and has purposefully avoided Manny Pacquiao. Should he defeat the Filipino icon then his legendary status would be confirmed. However, ‘Pacman’ can equally lay claim to being the best of his generation and should he inflict a first loss on ‘Money’ then many will point to Pacquiao as an all-time great.
Posted on: Wed, 03 Dec 2014 05:07:13 +0000