Pacquiao, Mayweather make their match in March 2010

Manny Pacquiao with coach Freddie Roach (Photo credit: Frederick Manligas Nacino)

Luck could have finally changed for number 13 as it could yield the most lucrative fight in the history of boxing thanks to boxing royalties Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather Jr.

March 13, 2010, a Saturday, is the date for the highly-anticipated bout between the Filipino southpaw and “Pretty Boy,” which will finally settle the debate on who should rightfully be called the Pound-for-Pound King.

Although some details have yet to be threshed out, things are looking up for the Pacquiao-Mayweather megabuck fight with a 147-pound catch weight.
Citing an unidentified source who knows about the negotiations, the Associated Press (AP) said “contracts could be signed in the next few days.”

Pacquiao, the current Pound-for-Pound King, reportedly agreed with the proposal of Top Rank honcho Bob Arum and made only minor changes. The amended terms are going to be presented to Richard Shaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, which handles Mayweather’s fights.

Michael Koncz, one of Pacquiao’s advisers, said the contracts need “fine tuning,” adding that his ward is “very comfortable” with a March 13 fight; although, he just came off a big bout against Miguel Cotto for his WBO welterweight belt.

“The requests of Manny were so realistic that Arum doesn’t feel it’s a problem and it’s pretty much a done deal,” Koncz was quoted by AP.

The Telegraph said the event is the most important fight in 25 years, saying that it would “almost certainly break the existing record” of 2.4 million pay-per-view buys and $120 million in pay-per-view revenue held by Mayweather-Oscar De La Hoya tussle in 2007.

The Mayweather-De La Hoya was history-making in itself, overshadowing two heavyweight fights: 1.99 million buy mark set in 1997 by Evander Holyfield-Mike Tyson “ear-bite” rematch and the $112 million revenue earned by the Lennox Lewis-Tyson brawl in 2002.

The Telegraph added that the Pacquiao-Mayweather match guarantees $25 million each for each fighter in gate receipts, excluding their pay-per-view shares.

“The fight could easily gross $100 million which, if it catches fire in the mainstream, could rise to $150 million,” the Telegraph said.

In an interview with ABS-CBN, Top Rank’s Arum said the deal is going to be a 50/50 split between the two boxing powerhouses so the megabuck fight would push through.

“Pacquiao will say he deserves 60/40, Mayweather will say he deserves 60/40… It’s 50/50,” Arum said. (Grace R)

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