Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.
Friday, Dec. 4, 2009 | 11:56 a.m.
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The super fight is on.
According to ESPN.com reports, Manny Pacquiao (50-3-2, 38 KO) has agreed to fight Floyd Mayweather Jr. (40-0, 25 KO). Top Rank CEO Bob Arum flew to meet with Pacquiao on Tuesday on the mega-fight and it appears the Filipino has accepted the terms of the deal. Mayweather has already previously agreed to the deal according to Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer.
Although the final contract requires a few more details, both fighters have agreed to basic terms, including the likely date of March 13.
In an interview with GMA television, Pacquiao said, "March 13 is OK."
The deal consists of a welterweight bout that would be contested at 147 pounds, the maximum for that weight division.
Pacquiao’s most recent fight, a 12th round TKO win over Miguel Cotto on Nov. 14, was fought at a catch-weight of 145 pounds. Mayweather’s latest fight, a unanimous decision over Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19, was also at a catch-weight of 144 pounds, although Mayweather weighed in at 146.
The location of the fight still remains in question, although it is known that leading candidates still include the new Dallas Cowboys stadium, the Superdome in New Orleans and the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. There have also been talks of erecting a temporary 30,000-seat venue in the area located across the strip from the Wynn Casino and Hotel.
The two fighters are considered the top pound-for-pound competitors in the sport and many believe the fight will be the richest in boxing history, eclipsing the 2.44 million pay-per-view buys set by Mayweather's split decision win over Oscar De La Hoya in 2007.
Anticipation for the fight reached new peaks after Pacquiao defeated Miguel Cotto by 12th-round TKO on Nov. 14, making him the first boxer in the sports history to win a world title in seven different weight divisions. Mayweather's last fight was a unanimous decision win over Juan Manuel Marquez on Sept. 19.
President of HBO Sports Ross Greenburg called the potential matchup "one of the biggest matchups in boxing history" the night of the Pacquiao fight and vowed the fight would be made.
Brett Okamoto can be reached at 948-7817 or [email protected].
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