In a revealing interview with former Senior Vice President of Top Rank, Inc., M. Akbar Muhammad, specific details of the projected 2015 super fight between Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao were released this afternoon.
?The location of the proposed Mayweather vs Pacquiao fight will be Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates,? stated Muhammad to BoxingScene.com. ?Some members of the media said the fight would be, for instance, in Dubai. That is 100 percent incorrect. Abu Dhabi is and always has been the one and only site for this event.?
Although Mayweather has been offered a record $110 million purse by an investment group comprised of several individuals based out of Abu Dhabi, the soon to be 38 year old prizefighter hasn?t fought outside of his resident city of Las Vegas, Nevada, since defeating Southpaw Sharmba Mitchell almost ten years ago.
In his first outing at 147 pounds, the artist formerly known as Pretty Boy Floyd stopped the D.C. based fighter at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon, with a vicious body shot in the final minute of the sixth round.
Since the HBO televised bout, Mayweather has fought exclusively in Sin City, NV, with very little consideration to taking his show on the road throughout the continental United States?much less across the globe.
Despite having 110 million positive reasons why he should compete abroad, will the enigma from Grand Rapids take the money and finally give the fans what they?ve been clamoring for over the last five years? Even if it means leaving his perceived sanctuary in Nevada?
As if the money wasn?t enough, Muhammad states that he wants to feature Mayweather?s company as the primary promotional group of the event as well.
?We also envision that future fight cards in this part of world, regardless if Mr. Mayweather fights on them or not, will be done with Mayweather Promotions as the lead promoter,? claims the president and chief operating officer of Akbar Productions, LLC. ?I began my career working with Muhammad Ali, the greatest of all time.”
“Now I?m coming full circle, hopefully to work with the Floyd Mayweather?the best ever!?
It would seem the investment group from the United Arab Emirates is attempting to make Money May an offer he can?t refuse.
They just might have succeeded.
