Negotiations for the superfight between Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather, Jr. began today in Las Vegas. The talks hinge on Golden Boy Promotions CEO Richard Schaefer. He will represent Mayweather and has for his previous three fights. The negotiations also depend upon Top Rank’s Bob Arum, who is Pacquiao’s promoter.
A fight between Pacquiao and Mayweather would be the largest grossing fight of all-time. Thus, we could be looking at the largest paydays ever as well. Pacquiao’s fight earlier this month received 1.25 million buys on pay-per-view. It generated more than $70 million in television revenue. Mayweather’s last fight pulled in just over 1 million buys. This fight would crush these numbers. The all-time pay-per-view record is the 2.44 million buys from Mayweather’s 2007 fight against Oscar De La Hoya.
This fight should approach these numbers. Regardless, it will shatter revenue numbers.
The fight is said to be scheduled for “early 2010″. I can’t see it happening before spring.
After speaking today, Schaefer said that no further comments will be made until either a deal is reached or the negotiations fall apart. I know I speak for fight fans the world over wen I acknowledge my fanatic anticipation for both sides to get a deal done.
That’s fine. But, for the sake of the sport of boxing going forward, a deal needs to get done. The anticipation building up to this fight alone will be something out of a movie.
That is often the past part of a fight unfortunately. However, this match-up truly looks to be spectacular. Two of the quickest men in the sport. Do not blink or you risk missing greatness.
[...] the hype machine. I have already stated how this will be the highest-grossing boxing match ever. Even beyond that, beyond all the hype, it [...]