All
that remains of the long wait for the best pound-for-pound fighter in
the world to take on the pretender to that mythical title, Manny
Pacquiao, is for Money Mayweather to confirm that it’s on at last.
Mayweather
and the Filipino Pac-Man are to be paid a combined purse of $250million
for answering the public demand that they finally settle their
five-year argument in the ring.
That
cash-crazy neon desert Strip has lit up with electric expectation that
Mayweather is ready to confirm what has long seemed inevitable.
The
right to tell the world is one of his many stipulations in a contract
to which all parties are reliably reported to have agreed after an
eternity of wrangling.
The
deal now done barring a seismic tantrum by Mayweather is also believed
to include a rematch clause for a second $300m extravaganza back at the
MGM grand in the autumn.
The
minutiae of which gloves each combatant will wear, the Olympic standard
drugs testing which Mayweather has long demanded and Pacquiao’s
acquiescence to a smaller share of the fortune are all included.
The
two major cable networks in America – Showtime, who hold a six-fight
contract with Mayweather, and Pacquiao’s paymasters HBO – have settled
for both broadcasting this extraordinary event.
And it
remains a major spectacle, even though the world of boxing would have
preferred that these two men in their mid-to-late 30s had got it on all
these five years ago.
The
precedent for two-channel transmission was set when Mike Tyson and
Lennox Lewis clashed in a heavyweight bonanza in June 2002.
The
final sticking point – which of Showtime or HBO should have rights to
the first replay broadcast a few days later – now appears to have been
resolved.
The
fee for the pay TV subscription in America is expected to be a record
$100… or maybe $99.95 if they are feeling generous to the public! The
cost for ringside tickets at the MGM Grand Garden Arena will sell at the
order of $5000 apiece.
In
expectation of the demand the hotels in Vegas have been hiking their
room prices for that Mexico national celebration weekend in advance.
Thousands of high-rollers, not just from south of the border and the US,
but from around the world, have been booking in advance.
With
even his lesser share of the booty, Pacquiao’s minimum $100m has been
ample incentive for him to concede such trifles as Mayweather – who will
receive $150m - taking the lead billing as well as both entering the
ring and being acclaimed last by the ring announcer.
Although
there were fears, justified or not, that Mayweather would prefer not to
risk his unbeaten record against the Philippines congressman, who is
still the biggest threat to that distinction, the offer seems to have
proved too good to refuse.
From
a British point of view, it’s an obvious disappointment for Amir Khan
to miss out on fighting either one of them, but even he has admitted
that he wants to see the fight.
The
pair are likely to undertake a tour of some of the planet’s major
capitals to help promote interest, and of course supplementary TV sales
around the world, including Britain where Sky Sports, BT Sport and
perhaps even BoxNation might find themselves in competition with, if not
taxpayer funded BBC, then ITV, who could go for pay per view for the
first time.
The
boost for boxing in this modern communications world will be so huge
that it could elevate the hard old game into a major sport on both sides
of the Atlantic.
A
worldwide of multiple millions, will, of course, spread out from the
boxing enthusiasts across the full spectrum of society. The fun and
games of all the negotiation and delays appears to be over. Let the
blood sport begin.
The
one remaining danger, perverse thought it may seem, is that Mayweather
will be so enraged by this information leaking in America that he blows
the deal and all those millions sky high.
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